WO2014151983A2

WO2014151983A2 - Apparatus and methods to apply free association word tags to products

Info

Publication number: WO2014151983A2
Application number: PCT/US2014/026768
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerald Mclaughlin
Original assignee: Branders.Com, Inc.
Priority date: 2013-03-15
Filing date: 2014-03-13
Publication date: 2014-09-25
Also published as: WO2014151983A3

Abstract

Various embodiments include apparatus, methods, and machine-readable media to apply free association word tags to products to generate a free association database of products. In embodiments, the free association database may enable a potential customer to find a suitable product. In embodiments, a list of tags associated with a suggested product may be displayed. In embodiments, a hierarchical classification of items may be automatically created by a computer-implemented method of grouping items through associative tags. The classification may comprise any combination of groups, sub-groups, and super-groups.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHODS TO APPLY FREE ASSOCIATION WORD TAGS TO PRODUCTS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U. S. Provisional

Application Serial Number 61/799,965, filed March 15, 2013, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Merchandise is often sold by merchants to customers through catalogs. Contemporary catalogs may be either paper or electronic. Merchants traditionally classify items in their catalogs manually. For example, a merchant of promotional products (also called advertising specialties) may have a catalog containing various products, such as hats, shirts, mugs, and so forth, which are classified within the catalog according to some attribute such as function. Thus, one section of a catalog may display hats; another may display shirts; another may display mugs; and so forth. Any given section or group, e.g. the "hat" group, may contain various sub-groups, such as "baseball caps", "knit caps", and "felt hats". From a higher perspective, several sections of a catalog may comprise a super-group of related groups. Thus, sections of hats, shirts, and jackets may be viewed as a super-group called "clothing".

To generate a catalog, a merchant must manually arrange and sort hundreds or even thousands of items according to the merchant's desired marketing plan. For example, a clothing merchant must look at many items of clothing and sort them into a desired arrangement that the merchant believes is optimal for capturing sales by people looking at the merchant's catalog. The work involved in generating a catalog is typically labor-intensive, time- consuming, and tedious, even if the merchant utilizes a computer to view, select, and manipulate items for a catalog. Often, the resulting catalog contains items grouped by obvious attributes, such as function (neckties, scarves, watches, gloves, etc.) or by a category of prospective buyer (women, children, men, teachers, pilots, musicians, etc.). Thus, known catalogs are useful mainly to shoppers who know what function they're looking for, or what category of prospective buyer they fall into.

It would be desirable to provide catalogs that facilitate matching buyers with merchandise in non-traditional and unexpected ways, as well as in traditional ways. It would also be desirable to provide a method of creating both traditional types of catalogs and non-traditional types of catalogs that don't require a merchant to manually classify and manipulate hundreds or thousands of items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the present inventive subject matter are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an introductory screen generated as part of a product survey according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a product identification screen generated as part of a product survey according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a free association tag entry screen generated as part of a product survey according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a product type screen generated as part of a product survey according to various embodiments;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a store type screen generated as part of a product survey according to various embodiments;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a search results screen generated as part of a product search according to various embodiments;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a product description and pricing screen generated as part of a product search according to various embodiments;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a screen depicting a list of associated keywords for a product generated as part of a product search according to various embodiments; FIG. 10 is an illustration of a portion of a word association database generated according to various embodiments;

FIG. 1 1 is an illustration of a portion of a traditional catalog generated according to various embodiments;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a portion of a free association catalog generated according to various embodiments;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart depicting an example method of creating a free association database according to various embodiments;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart depicting an example method of selecting a product or item according to various embodiments;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart depicting an example method of classifying products according to various embodiments; and

FIG. 16 is a flowchart depicting an example method of classifying items according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to understand and implement them, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that mechanical, structural, electrical, functional, and procedural changes may be made without departing from the principles and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments of the invention is defined only by the appended claims.

Various embodiments include apparatus, methods, and machine -readable media to apply free association word tags to products to generate a free association database of products. In embodiments, the free association database may enable a potential customer to find a suitable product. In embodiments, a list of tags associated with a suggested product may be displayed. In embodiments, a hierarchical classification of items may be automatically created by a computer-implemented method of grouping items through associative tags. The classification may comprise any combination of groups, sub-groups, and super-groups, as will be explained in more detail below.

In general, embodiments described herein are concerned with creating and using an Internet search tool. The search tool enables on-line users to search for products that have been previously tagged or associated with keywords by human beings, referred to herein as "survey takers". Because the keyword association is provided by human beings, as opposed to a computer-aided Web crawler that attempts to derive meaning from web pages, it has significantly more meaning and utility for human on-line users. That is to say, non-expert human survey takers, in the keyword association phase, will have described products in everyday language in the same way and with the same language that non-expert on-line users might use when searching for products. Products can be categorized and given attributes and features by human beings that are useful to human users in finding products at a later time. Of course, expert survey takers may be employed in the event that subject matter to be tagged is technical in nature.

Some embodiments are concerned with creating and using catalogs. The catalogs are typically electronic but are not limited to electronic format.

Catalogs comprise a plurality of items, which items may comprise products, including promotional products, as well as services, ideas, and other things.

In some embodiments described in greater detail below, a product is displayed to a survey taker, who may apply one or more free association tags or descriptors to the product. The product may be displayed to the survey taker in person, on paper, over the Internet, or in any other suitable manner. In one example, a photograph, video, or audio track of the product may be provided to the survey taker to obtain his or her free association tags.

For example, in an embodiment, a first item, such as a pair of sunglasses, may be displayed to the user. The user may free-associate anything that comes to mind for the sunglasses, for example, "beach party", "cool", "driver", "eyes", "sun", "sunglasses", "glasses", "fashion", "polarizing", "shades", and so forth.

When the survey taker has finished entering tags for one product, additional products are sequentially displayed to the survey taker, who may enter a plurality of tags for each of the total number M of products. It will be understood that in some embodiments, products may be displayed to the user in other than a sequential manner.

In some embodiments, a survey taker may also be requested to provide a word or phrase to identify the type of item, product, or service being displayed. In some embodiments, the survey taker may also be asked to provide a type of store where the item, product, or service is typically available.

In various embodiments, a large number of people are surveyed for each product. Survey takers may be people from crowd-sourcing services or functions, such as Amazon Mechanical Turk. The number N of individuals surveyed should be within the range of 10 to 1 ,000,000. An optimum number N may be readily determined by one of ordinary skill. The number N of survey takers may be surveyed asynchronously. That is, one survey taker may be involved in tagging a first subset, e.g. 10, of the total number M of products, while another survey taker may be tagging the same subset or a different subset of products. The sizes and subject matter of the subsets of products tagged by different survey takers may be identical or different.

The responses, including the tags and other requested information, of all of the survey takers are stored in a free association database. In various embodiments, this database comprises a record for each item or product surveyed. Each record comprises a plurality of free association tags that have been applied by the survey takers.

Using the information gathered from the survey takers and stored in the free association database, in various embodiments the computer system provides methods whereby a system user can select a product or item meeting his or her requirements. For example, in one embodiment, a list of keywords or tags may be displayed to the user. The user may enter a tag that appears to meet his or her requirements, e.g. "cool" if the user is looking for a "cool" promotional product. In response to entry of the keyword, the system displays one or more items or products from the free association database having a matching or closely matching tag. The system may, in various embodiments, prioritize or sort the matching items for display to the user in any desired manner, such as by price or popularity. The system may optionally display a complete or partial list of keywords stored in the free association database for one or more of the displayed items. While various embodiments described herein are directed toward creating and retrieving items from a free association database, it should be understood that embodiments are not limited to just these functions. In various embodiments, a free association database generated in a manner as described above may enable apparatus and methods of readily classifying items or products. In some embodiments, the creation of catalogs may be facilitated.

In an exemplary embodiment, products having a common tag may be classified into a group. For example, if a baseball cap, a felt hat, and a knit cap are each tagged by survey takers with "hat", then the system may classify these products as a group called "hats". Baseball caps may be classified as a subgroup. Various types of baseball caps (e.g. 6-panel caps, adjustable caps, flexible band caps, stiff brim, etc.) may be classified into sub-sub-groups. A wide variety of wearable products may be tagged by survey takers as "clothing", which may be viewed as a super-group in this taxonomy of wearable products, which is illustrated below:

Clothing (super-group)

Hats (group)

Baseball caps (sub-group)

6-panel baseball caps (sub-sub-group)

Thus, in various embodiments, a computer system may utilize a free association database, such as one generated as described above, to create a taxonomy of items, including products, services, and ideas. A catalog is one form of such a taxonomy. Thus, a computer system may be programmed in accordance with the teachings of the present subject matter to readily create catalogs of a traditional type or of a free association type.

A free association type of catalog, in various embodiments, may classify items by tag. For example, with the tag "travel" may be classified "airline", "learning Spanish", "globe", "suitcase", "travel agent", "voltage converter", and other items tagged with "travel" through the survey takers' free association process. Methods and apparatus to generate catalogs in this manner have significant commercial advantages by reducing the amount of laborious classification work needed to be performed by merchants assembling a catalog. Further, free association catalogs may provide significant advantages over traditional catalogs, because they may enable prospective customers to find potential matches in unexpected places within a taxonomy (classification structure) of all the available items.

In some embodiments, the present subject matter is implemented as a computer-based service that is accessed through the Internet, for example, using a Web browser. The service provides an interface that allows a user to access the product surveys and electronic catalog and to view images of the items or products displayed therein.

Various methods of classifying and retrieving items or products are described herein. Also described herein are applications, modules, and systems, as well as an article comprising a machine-accessible medium containing data which, when accessed, result in a machine performing operations to enable survey takers to tag items, including promotional products, and to enable prospective customers to retrieve and view such items and products.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system 100 according to various embodiments. System 100 includes one or more client devices 102A-N coupled to server 120 through network 1 10. Client devices 102A-N are not limited to any particular type of devices. In various embodiments, client devices 102A-N include a single client device or a combination of client devices 102A-N. In various embodiments, the single client device or the combination of client devices includes any combination of types of devices, including but not limited to personal computers (PCs), laptop computers, netbooks, smartbooks, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, smart phones, Internet Protocol (IP) televisions, High Definition (HD) televisions, and the like.

Client devices 102A-N include an interface 105. Interface 105 is operable to allow a client device 102A-N to communicate with server 120 through network 1 10. Interface 105 is not limited to any particular type of interface. In various embodiments, interface 105 is a web browser. In various embodiments, any one or more of client devices 102A-N uses a wireless connection 104 to communicate with network 1 10. In various embodiments, in instances where a client device included in client devices 102A-N is using the wireless connection 104, interface 105 is operable to facilitate the

communications taking place over the wireless connection 104 to and from the given one of client devices 102A-N using the wireless connection 104. It would be understood that the interface 105 in a given client device 102A-N would be operable to allow the given client device 102A-N to communicate with server 120 through network 1 10, and thus in some embodiments is a different type of interface as would be provided in another and different one of client devices 102A-N.

In various embodiments, client devices 102A-N include a display 106.

Display 106 is not limited to any particular type of display, and it can include any type of display operable to visually display one or more products, product survey screens, and/or some portion of an electronic catalog. In various embodiments, display 106 is operable to allow inputs to be made at a client device including, by way of illustration but not limited to, having display 106 include a touch screen.

In various embodiments, any one of client devices 102A-N is operable to access information, such as text, graphics, video, and audio, provided at server 120. In various embodiments, server 120 is operable to provide graphical images included as part of a product survey screen or an electronic catalog to any one or more of client devices 102A-N. In various embodiments, the information is provided as one or more web pages accessible by one or more of client devices 102A-N. In various embodiments, server 120 is operable to provide different information to each of the different client devices 102A-N.

In various embodiments, information for a user is accessed through one of client devices 102A-N that utilize interface 105 to provide graphical interfaces for the user to effectively access such information, which may be provided at server 120. The client devices 102A-N communicate with the server 120 via a network 1 10, which in some embodiments includes the Internet. Server 120 includes in various embodiments any combination of such components including a web server 130, an application server 140, and a database server 190. It will be appreciated that these servers can run on other machines that are accessible by server 120.

In various embodiments, server 120 is an article of manufacture that includes at least one programmed digital computer 142. The computer may comprise at least one processor 144 and at least one memory unit 146, wherein the memory may include any type of computer-readable or machine-readable medium, such as rotating or solid-state memory, operable to store instructions that when executed by the processor, perform any of the methods or operations described herein.

In various embodiments, database server 190 is coupled to or includes one or more databases 199. Databases 199 include but are not limited to any combination of product image database 182, product receiving database 184, product database 186, logo database 188, photo archive database 192, customer database 194, order database 196, and word association database 198. In various embodiments, databases 199 are also stored at the server 120. However, it would be understood that one or more of databases 199 can be stored at other machines and other servers, and database data can be uploaded to the server 120 when it is needed.

The application server 140 contains visualization server 150 that includes compositing engine 160, product image conversion engine 170, and artwork creation engine 180. In certain embodiments, compositing engine 160 generates a composite image based on a first image provided as a promotional product in the product survey or electronic catalog, and a second image associated with a particular user who is accessing the product survey or electronic catalog. A first image is, for example, uploaded from a product manufacturer and depicts a promotional product. A file associated with the first image is received at a product receiving database 184. The file includes information associated with the promotional product that is associated with the file, including any combination of dimensional information, choices of colors and materials available for the promotional product, information regarding what

manufacturing processes are available for decorating the promotional product, warping information related to how to warp a decorative image onto one or more portions of the images of the promotional product associated with the file, and default areas or imprint areas where decorative images can be applied to the images of the promotional product.

In various embodiments, the file is processed by the product image conversion engine 170 for storage in a product database 186. In various embodiments, the file includes data representing one or more images of the promotional product. In various embodiments, the data representing the one or more images of the promotional product are stored in the product image database 182. In various embodiments, the information associated with the file and the promotional product is stored in the product database 186.

The image for the promotional product can be obtained from any number of sources. For example, an operator of a Web site that is supported by the server 120 can employ an internal photographic (or art) department that is responsible for generating images of products that are supplied, together with pertinent product information, to the Web site operator by manufacturers of such products. In various embodiments, these internally generated photographs are stored in a photo archive database 192.

In various embodiments, the decorative image, or "second image" is any image that can be stored or uploaded into visualization server 150, and applied in a composite image to an image of at least one promotional product. In various embodiments, the decorative images are image files that are uploaded from network 1 10 and stored in logo database 188. The image files are not limited to any particular type or format of files, and can include any types and formats of files operable to provide data that can be utilized as a decorative image by visualization server 150. In various embodiments, the image file for the decorative image is not limited to any particular format, and in various embodiments, can be any of the following formats: Joint Photographic Experts Group format (.jpg), Microsoft Windows™ Bitmap formatted image (.bmp), and Tagged Image File Format (.tif).

In various embodiments, the artwork creation engine 180 is operable to detect information associated with the image file, such as but not limited to the number of colors and transparent areas included in an image file for a decorative image. In various embodiments, visualization server 150 generates displays of the image files on a special background operable to allow a user to edit the image file. In various embodiments, the image file including the decorative image and any associated decorative file information is stored in the customer database 194 so as to associate the image file and the decorative image with a particular client or survey taker.

A description of how attributes/keywords/tags are gathered for products immediately follows.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an introductory screen 100 generated as part of a product survey according to various embodiments. Screen 100 is a demographic sign-in page that explains the task to the survey taker and collects age and gender demographics.

Screen portion 202 explains the survey task to the survey taker. The survey taker is to tag each of a plurality of items or products with free association words. First one product will be displayed. The survey taker is to fill in a plurality of free association words, taking perhaps only a minute or two, and then asking for the next product to be displayed.

The survey taker can be from any demographic. Preferably, the survey taker will provide information regarding the demographic group to which he or she belongs. For example, information regarding the survey taker's age and gender may be logged in screen portion 204.

A security phrase (known as a CAPTCHA) may be displayed and logged in screen portion 206 to ensure responses are generated by human beings rather than computers.

The survey taker then selects "Begin Survey" by clicking on button 208.

It should be understood that in other embodiments different information may be displayed and logged than that depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a product identification screen 300 generated as part of a product survey according to various embodiments. A product 302 is displayed to the survey taker. At screen portion 304, the survey taker is asked whether he can tell what type of product is being displayed. This is to confirm that the survey taker comprehends what product is being displayed, so he or she can provide reliable answers to the survey. Screen portion 306 provides an Item Description of the product, which in this example is a promotional USB

(Universal System Bus) charger for a cigarette lighter socket or auxiliary plug-in of a motor vehicle.

It would be understood that more, less, and/or other choices from those shown in question section 304 could be used as part of the possible responses for this screen.

The survey taker then selects the "Next Question" button 308.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a free association tag entry screen 400 generated as part of a product survey according to various embodiments. In screen portion 404, the survey taker is instructed to provide free associated tags or descriptors for the displayed product 402. In this example, the survey taker is instructed to list all of the settings, people, words, or other things that people associate with this product. In this example, the survey taker has entered "car" (line 411), "MP3" (line 412), "cell phone" (line 413), "USB" (line 414), and "memory" (line 415). It will be understood that other survey takers may likely enter a different set of tags. Each survey taker can be asked to list all words or phrases that come to mind in a free association manner.

Screen portion 406, like screen portion 306 of FIG. 3, provides an Item Description of the product.

The survey taker then selects either the "Previous Question" button 416 or the "Next Question" button 418 to return to the previous screen or advance to the next screen, respectively.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a product type screen 500 generated as part of a product survey according to various embodiments. In screen portion 504, the survey taker is asked to provide, using a free association, what type of item he or she thinks is shown at the left side of the screen. Item 502 and its corresponding Item Description 506 may be similar to if not identical to those depicted as 402 and 406 in FIG. 4. This particular survey taker has responded with "USB Charger" in screen entry 508. This screen may be optional. It provides a degree of redundancy to verify that the survey taker completely recognizes the displayed item.

The survey taker then may select either the "Previous Question" button 510 or the "Next Question" button 512.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a store type screen 600 generated as part of a product survey according to various embodiments. In screen portion 604, the survey taker is asked to provide, using free association, what type of store (or stores) would sell this type of product. If the survey taker doesn't know, he or she is instructed to write "I don't know". The survey taker, in this example, has responded with "Computer" in screen entry 608. This screen may be optional. It provides supplementary information about the product by describing a typical store or stores where it is believed by the survey taker to be available.

Item 602 and its corresponding Item Description 606 may be similar to if not identical to those depicted as 402 and 406 in FIG. 4.

The survey taker then may select either the "Previous Question" button 612 or the "Done, Give Me Another Product" button 610. If the survey taker selects button 610, the system displays a different item in a screen like that previously described in FIG. 3. The method of surveying the user continues through the same sequence of FIGS. 3 and 4, and optionally FIGS. 5 and 6, until the survey taker has viewed and tagged N items. In an embodiment, N may be 10; however, N may be any suitable number. Considerations in choosing N may include the demographics of the survey takers, the time available for the survey takers to take the survey, the complexity of the subject matter, and other factors.

Other survey takers may be surveyed regarding the same or different items, asynchronously with the first survey taker described above, or sequentially in the event that system resources are limited.

The information displayed about items or products can be provided to the survey taker in various ways. For example, the information can be provided in text format, such as descriptive text; as a photograph, such as a photograph of a product or of a product being used; as a video, such as a promotional video of a product; as an audio track; or a combination of text, photograph, video, and audio.

In one example, the product can be a promotional product, such as any product or service containing a logo of a seller, manufacturer or distributor. In another example, the product can be any item, service, or idea, or a non- promotional product.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a search results screen 700 generated as part of a product search according to various embodiments. In this example, the potential customer has previously entered the tag or descriptor "Useful" in screen entry 702, resulting in the illustrated search results screen 700. In this embodiment, the system is displaying by default the three most popular results, namely Extended Bass Earphones depicted and partially described in screen portion 710, a 22 Ounce Metalike Bottle with a Flip Lid in screen portion 712, and an 8-Function Stainless Steel Knife in screen portion 714. It should be understood by those in the art that search results screen 700 may display more or less information, or different information, from that depicted.

The potential customer may navigate within the depicted search results screen to look for other products. For example, the potential customer may narrow the search by clicking on different filters. As an example, the potential customer may enter a budget figure in "Set Budget" portion 704. Or the potential customer may optionally select a popularity bracket, implemented as "5 Stars" down to "1 Star" in portion 706. Or the potential customer may use the Alphabetical Product Index 716 to select only products whose names begin with the corresponding letter of the alphabet. For example, clicking on "C" will select product types beginning with the letter "C".

However, let us assume that the potential customer desires to find a different product using a tag word or keyword. A list of the keywords stored in the free association database 198 (described later in FIG. 10) for the products currently displayed to the potential customer appears in Keyword List portion 708. More keywords can be provided if the potential customer clicks on "More Keywords".

The tag word "Cool" appears in the Keyword List 708. Let us assume the potential customer desires to view other products tagged as "Cool". Clicking on the tag word "Cool" in Keyword List 708 will trigger a search within the free association database 198 that will select other products that have been tagged as "cool" by human survey takers. As a result, the system changes the screen of FIG. 7 to the screen depicted in FIG. 8, which will now be described.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a product description and pricing screen 800 generated as part of a product search according to various embodiments. Screen 800 depicts a hit, in the form of a product satisfying the "Cool" tag word selected from Keyword List 708 in FIG. 7. In this example, the product is a USB Car Charger that is illustrated in photo 816 and described in text within screen portion 808. Screen portion 810 provides additional information, such as item number, availability, material, dimensions, imprint area (e.g., for imprinting a customer logo), decoration method, and weight.

Tab 804 is the currently active tab, which causes the screen to depict "Item Description / Pricing". Other tabs (not currently active) may include tab 805 "How much people like this" and tab 806 "Buyer Testimonials". In this embodiment, additional buttons may include button 81 1 "Add Your Logo", button 812 "Get Quote", button 813 "Get Free Sample", and button 814 "Buy Now". At 820 the user may view the USB Car Charger in various available colors by clicking on the displayed color or by moving forward or backward with the appropriate arrow. The potential customer may also enter a search request into entry area 802, which would cause the system to look for something else.

In this example, it is assumed that the potential customer clicks on tab 805, and the system accordingly changes from the screen of FIG. 8 to that depicted in FIG. 9, which will now be described.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a screen 900 depicting a list 918 of associated keywords for a product generated as part of a product search according to various embodiments. In this example, the elements shown by reference numbers 902, 904-906, 908, 910-914, 916, and 920 may be similar to if not exactly like the elements shown by reference numbers 802, 804-806, 808, 810- 814, 816, and 820 in FIG. 8.

List 918 of associated keywords may include all or a portion of the tags that have been applied by a plurality of survey takers to the depicted USB Car Charger product. For example, the keyword "Useful" appears as the fourth word in the list. The keyword "Cool" may be in list 918 but it is not shown in FIG. 9 because part of the list has been truncated due to the length of the list.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a portion 1000 of a word association database generated according to various embodiments. In an embodiment, the word association database is word association database 198 shown in FIG. 1.

The information received from the survey takers in the operations depicted in FIGS. 2-6 may be compiled to create a word association database. The word association database can be organized such that it includes a list of all word associations made by all survey takers for each item or product.

Word association database portion 1000 depicts records for items 1001- 1006. Each item' s record includes a corresponding list 101 1 - 1016 of free word associations. For example, a record 1001 is shown for "Baseball Cap", and this record includes a corresponding list 101 1 of free word associations in the form of the following tags:

Adjustable

Baseball

Clothing

Hat

Loyalty

Sport Sun

Tavern

The above list may represent all or a portion of the tags that survey takers provided for the item "Baseball Cap".

Item 1003 is for a service (Dentist) rather than a product, and its record includes a corresponding list 1013 of free word associations in the form of the following tags:

Cavities

Floss

Smile

Teeth

Toothbrush

It will be understood that the free association database may be much larger than the portion 1000 depicted in FIG. 10. It may contain records for thousands of items, each of which has an associated list of free word associations or tags.

FIG. 1 1 is an illustration of a portion 1 100 of a traditional catalog generated according to various embodiments. Using the information gathered from the survey takers and stored in the free association database, in various embodiments, the computer system provides methods of creating catalogs, which may be either traditional catalogs or free association catalogs. First, with reference to FIG. 1 1, methods of creating a traditional catalog will be explained.

In an exemplary embodiment, products having a common tag may be classified into a group. For example, with reference to portion 1 102 of FIG. 1 1, if a baseball cap, a felt hat, and a knit cap are each tagged by survey takers with "hat", then the system may classify these products as a group called "Hats". "Baseball Caps", "Felt Hats", and "Knit Caps" may each be classified as a subgroup within the group called "Hats".

Various types of "Baseball Caps" (e.g. "6-Panel", Adjustable Caps", "Flexible Band Caps", etc.) may be classified into sub-sub-groups within the sub-group called "Baseball Caps". "Hats" and various other types of wearable products, such as "Shirts", may be tagged by survey takers as "Clothing", which may be viewed as a super-group in this taxonomy of wearable products, as illustrated below: Clothing (super-group)

Hats (group)

Baseball caps (sub-group)

Adjustable caps (sub-sub-group)

The programmed digital computer 142 (FIG. 1), using the tag words within the free association database, and applying suitable logic, can readily create one or more tree structures or taxonomies (classification structures). One type of taxonomy is a traditional catalog, which may comprise portions 1 102 and 1 104. Portion 1 102 depicts a "Clothing" part of a traditional catalog, and portion 1 104 depicts a "Sporting Goods" part of a traditional catalog.

Portion 1 102 shows "Shirts" as a group, and "Dress Shirts", "Knitted Shirts", and "T-Shirts" as sub-groups. Portion 1 104 shows "Bicycles" and "Swimming Gear" as groups within the super-group "Sporting Goods". The group "Bicycles" may include, for example, the sub-groups "Children's Bicycles", "Mountain Bicycles", and "Touring Bicycles". The group

"Swimming Gear" may include, for example, the sub-groups "Goggles", "Nose Plugs", and "Swim Caps".

It will be understood that the example depicted in FIG. 11 may represent only a small portion of a traditional catalog, and that such a catalog may contain hundreds or thousands of items. Using the methods disclosed herein, the generation of a traditional catalog may be facilitated. Methods and apparatus to generate catalogs in this manner have significant commercial advantages by reducing the amount of laborious classification work needed to be performed by merchants in assembling a catalog.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a portion 1200 of a free association catalog generated according to various embodiments. A free association type of catalog, in various embodiments, may classify items by tag.

Free association catalog portion 1200 comprises sections 1201-1211 each containing a tag, such as "Beach Party" in section 1201, and an associated list of items that have been tagged with that tag. In the illustrated example of a "Beach Party" tag, the items include "Beach Ball", "Soda Can Cozy", and "Sunglasses".

Within the tag "Travel" 1210 may be classified "Airline", "Learning Spanish", "Globe", "Suitcase", "Travel Agent", "Voltage Converter", and other items tagged with "Travel" through the survey takers' free association labeling. Free association catalogs provide significant advantages over traditional catalogs, because they enable prospective customers to find potential matches in unexpected places within a taxonomy (classification structure) of all the available items. For example, a potential customer looking for a promotional item that will reward customer loyalty may enter the tag "Loyalty" (e.g. into search field 702 of a screen similar to that shown in FIG. 7). In response, the system retrieves from the word association database 198 all items that have been tagged with the word "Loyalty", such as "Baseball Cap", "Coin Holder", "Key Chain", "Mouse Pad", "Smart Phone Skin", plus additional items not illustrated in portion 1204.

The programmed digital computer 142 (FIG. 1), using the tag words within the free association database, and applying suitable logic, can readily create one or more tree structures or taxonomies (classification structures) to provide a free association catalog.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart depicting an example method 1300 of creating a free association database according to various embodiments. In an embodiment, the word association database is word association database 198 shown in FIG. 1.

In 1300, a plurality of people apply free association tags to a plurality of products in a manner as described earlier and in further detail below. The products may be promotional products or other items, such as services or ideas.

In 1302, an image of a first product is displayed to a first person.

In 1304, the first person is instructed to apply free association tags to the first product by listing all settings, functions, emotions, people, words, or other things that the first person can freely associate with this product.

In 1306, the first person may optionally be instructed to provide a word or phrase to identify the type of product he or she thinks is displayed.

In 1308, the first person may optionally be instructed to provide a type of store where he or she thinks the product is typically available.

In 1310, the image of the first product is displayed to a different person. In 1312, steps 1302 through 1310 (optionally including or excluding steps 1306 and 1308) are repeated N times, where N represents the number of people surveyed for the first product. The number N of individuals surveyed should be within the range of 10 to 1,000,000. An optimum number N may be readily determined by one of ordinary skill. In 1314, steps 1302 through 1312 (optionally including or excluding steps 1306 and 1308) are performed M times, where M represents the number of products being surveyed by the survey takers.

In 1316, from the information gathered in steps 1302-1314 a free association database of products is generated. Each product in the database has a plurality of free association tags associated with it.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart depicting an example method 1400 of selecting a product or item according to various embodiments.

In the method of 1400, the product or item may be a promotional product, a service, or an idea.

In 1402, a list of keywords or tags is displayed to a system user, such as a prospective customer.

In 1404, a selection of a keyword from the list is received from the user.

In 1406, at least one product or item is retrieved from a free association database of products or items, using the keyword. In an embodiment, a plurality of products or items are retrieved.

In 1408, the product(s) or item(s) are displayed to the user. The product(s) or item(s) may optionally be prioritized by any suitable attributes, such as popularity, price, weight, availability, material, size, imprint area (i.e. the area of a product available for imprinting a logo or text), decoration method (i.e., silk screen printing, embroidery, etc.), or other attributes. A list of keywords or tags associated with each product or item may optionally be displayed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart depicting an example method 1500 of classifying products according to various embodiments.

In the method of 1500, the products may be promotional products, services, or ideas.

In 1502, a free association database of products is generated in a manner previously described. Each product has a plurality of free association tags associated with it.

In 1504, products having a common tag are classified into a group. This is illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 1 1 and 12. In FIG. 1 1, the items tagged as "Baseball Caps" are classified into a "Baseball Cap" group. In FIG. 12, the items tagged as "Travel" are classified into a "Travel" group. FIG. 16 is a flowchart depicting an example method 1600 of classifying items according to various embodiments.

In the method of 1600, the items may be promotional products, services, or ideas.

In 1602, a free association database of items is generated in a manner previously described. Each item has a plurality of free association tags associated with it.

In 1604, items having a common tag are classified into a group.

In 1606, a hierarchical classification of the items is created. The classification may comprise any combination of sub-groups, groups, and supergroups. This is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1 1 , wherein in portion 1 102 items are classified in a tree structure as super-group "Clothing", group "Hats", sub-group "Baseball Caps", and sub-sub-group "6-Panel Caps".

Various embodiments of apparatus and methods to apply free association word tags to products have been described herein. Various embodiments include an apparatus comprising a server operable to generate a free association database by having people apply free association tags to individual products displayed to the people.

Various embodiments include a network-based transaction system comprising a server coupled to a network, at least one client device coupled to the server through the network, the server coupled to a word association database storing product information and associated tag information, wherein the server is operable to populate the free association database by having a person apply free association tags to individual products displayed to the person in sequence, and having additional people apply free association tags to the same or different products displayed to them.

Various embodiments include a machine-readable medium comprising a computer memory storing instructions for creating a free association database by having a plurality of people apply free association tags to a plurality of products, which instructions when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations: a) displaying an image of a first product to a first person; b) instructing the first person to apply free association tags to the product by listing all settings, functions, emotions, people, words, or other things that the first person can associate with this product; c) displaying the image of the first product to a different person; d) repeating steps a)-c) N times, where N represents the number of individual people surveyed for the first product; e) repeating steps a)-d) M times, where M represents the number of products; and f) generating, from the information gathered in steps a)-e), a free association database of products, each product having a plurality of free association tags associated with it.

Various embodiments include a method of creating a free association database by having a plurality of people apply free association tags to a plurality of products comprising: a) displaying an image of a first product to a first person; b) instructing the first person to apply free association tags to the product by listing all settings, functions, emotions, people, words, or other things that the first person can associate with this product; c) displaying the image of the first product to a different person; d) repeating steps a)-c) N times, where N represents the number of individual people surveyed for the first product; e) repeating steps a)-d) M times, where M represents the number of products; and f) generating, from the information gathered in steps a)-e), a free association database of products, each product having a plurality of free association tags associated with it.

Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, including the word association database and associated apparatus and methods, may be implemented in any suitable way by those of ordinary skill in the art. Embodiments of the invention may be readily implemented in a variety of machine platforms and operating systems.

The operations described above with respect to the methods illustrated in the figures can be performed in a different order from those described herein.

Embodiments of the present subject matter facilitate the creation of product catalogs of traditional and non-traditional (free association) types. Free association catalogs enable potential customers to locate products in non- traditional and unexpected ways by entering word tags created through free association by human beings. As a result, such on-line catalogs may be more commercially attractive than traditional on-line catalogs.

As shown herein, the present subject matter may be implemented in a number of different embodiments, including various methods, applications, modules, and systems, and in articles comprising machine-accessible media having associated instructions or, more generally, data. Other embodiments will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The elements, algorithms, and sequence of operations may all be varied to suit particular requirements.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented in conjunction with program modules, including functions, constructs, procedures, data structures, application programs, etc. for performing tasks, or defining abstract data types or low-level hardware contexts. Program modules, including instructions, may be stored in memory 146 (FIG. 1) and associated computer storage media of any type, including those mentioned earlier. Program modules may be delivered over transmission environments, including networks (not shown), in the form of packets, serial data, parallel data, propagated signals, or any other suitable form. Program modules may be used in a compressed or encrypted format, and they may be used in a distributed environment and stored in local and/or remote memory, for access by single and multi-processor machines, or any other type of electronic system 100 (FIG. 1).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that an embodiment of the invention may comprise an application having routines, which when executed by a machine, generate a free association database from a plurality of free association surveys completed by a plurality of people viewing a plurality of different products.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that an embodiment of the invention may comprise an application having routines to generate a free association database, and to control a computer processor to retrieve at least one product from the database and display it to a potential customer in response to the potential customer inputting a keyword representing an attribute of a desired product. The attribute need not be a product type or product name. It may be a place where the product is potentially used (e.g. "beach party", "tavern", or "travel"), a feeling a user anticipates getting from the product (e.g. "joy"), a functional attribute of the product (e.g. "adjustable"), a potential user of the product (e.g. "driver"), an attribute of potential donees of the product (e.g. "loyalty"), an idea or thought regarding the product (e.g., "thinking"), and utility attributes of the product (e.g. "useful" or "multifacet"), and/or a facial expression expected from using the product (e.g. "smile"). In view of the disclosure herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art how to write suitable software routines that implement the functions, features, and operations discussed above. The figures illustrate various embodiments of the subject matter that can be understood and appropriately carried out by those of ordinary skill in the art.

The illustrated architecture of the electronic system described herein is only an example of possible architectures. Embodiments of the present subject matter are in no way limited to any particular architecture for the electronic system 100 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 1 is merely representational and is not drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement or process that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application covers any adaptations or variations of embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments of this inventive subject matter be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b) requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A method of creating a free association database by having a plurality of people apply free association tags to a plurality of products comprising:

a) displaying an image of a first product to a first person; b) instructing the first person to apply free association tags to the product by listing all settings, functions, emotions, people, words, or other things that the first person can associate with this product;

c) displaying the image of the first product to a different person;

d) repeating steps a)-c) N times, where N represents a number of individual people surveyed for the first product;

e) repeating steps a)-d) M times, where M represents a number of products; and

f) generating, from the information gathered in steps a)-e), a free association database of products, each product having a plurality of free association tags associated with it.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the products are promotional products.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising instructing one or more persons to provide a word or phrase to identify the product type.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising instructing one or more persons to provide a store type where the product is typically available.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein N is in range of 10 - 100.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein N is in the range of 100 - 1000.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein N is in the range of 100 - 10,000.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein N is in the range of 100 - 1 million.

9. An apparatus comprising a server operable to generate a free association database by having a person apply free association tags to individual products displayed to the person in sequence.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising having additional people apply free association tags to the individual products displayed to the people in sequence.

1 1. A network-based transaction system comprising:

a server coupled to a network;

at least one client device coupled to the server through the network;

the server coupled to a word association database storing product information and associated tag information;

wherein the server is operable to populate the free association database by having a person apply free association tags to individual products displayed to the person in sequence.

12. The system of claim 1 1, further comprising having additional people apply free association tags to the individual products displayed to the people in sequence.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a computer memory storing instructions for creating a free association database by having a plurality of people apply free association tags to a plurality of products, which instructions when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:

c) displaying the image of the first product to a different person;

e) repeating steps a)-d) M times, where M represents a number of products; and

14. The non-transitory machine -readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise instructing the first person to provide a word or phrase to identify the product type.

15. The non-transitory machine -readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise instructing the first person to provide a store type where the product is typically available.

16. A method of selecting a product comprising:

a) displaying a list of keywords to a user;

b) receiving a selection of a keyword from the list by the user;

c) using the keyword, retrieving at least one product from a free association database of products; and

d) displaying the at least one product to the user.

17. The method of claim 16, further including prioritizing the at least one product by popularity, price, weight, availability, material, size, imprint area, decoration method, or other attribute.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying the at least one product includes displaying a list of keywords associated with the product.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the product is a promotional product.

20. A method of classifying products comprising:

a) generating a free association database of products, each product having a plurality of free association tags associated with it; and b) classifying products having a common tag into a group.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the products are promotional products.

22. A method of classifying items comprising:

a) generating a free association database of items, each item having a plurality of free association tags associated with it; and

b) classifying items having a common tag into a group.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the item is a service.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the item is an idea.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

c) creating a hierarchical classification of the items, wherein the classification may comprise any combination of sub-groups, groups, and super-groups.