Method and system for importing data

Abstract

A method and system for importing data comprising the downloading of product data from different sources and in different formats; processing the downloaded data by at least comparing it with data downloaded and stored in a product database; and reviewing the results of the comparison to detect differences in the data, the differences potentially being errors. The system and methods further comprise connecting the downloaded data from its supplier specific format into a standard format; comparing the downloaded data in the standard format with a previously downloaded data set saved in the standard format; categorizing the product data based on the results of the second comparison; and processing each category of data independently to automatically update the product database.

1 . A method of generating searchable data, the method comprising: 
 receiving first data in a first format and including at least one first variable;    first assigning the at least one first variable to at least one second variable in a second format; and    converting the first data into second data having a second format based at least in part on the first assigning.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving third data in a third format and including at least one third variable;    second assigning the at least one third variable to the at least one second variable; and    converting the third data into the second data based at least in part on the second assigning.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second assigning is performed before the first assigning.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving third data in a third format and including at least one third variable;    second assigning the at least one third variable to at least one fourth variable; and    converting the third data into the second data based at least in part on the second assigning.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second assigning is performed before the first assigning.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising searching the second data based on at least one of the at least one first variable and the at least one second variable.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second format includes the first format.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving third data in a third format and including at least one third variable; and    converting the at least one third variable to the at least one second variable.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the third format includes the first format.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first data relates to at least one product.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one first variable represents at least one attribute of the at least one product.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first variable represents at least one attribute of at least one product.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising searching the second data.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the searching includes searching based at least in part on at least one of the at least one first variable and the at least one second variable.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second format includes a standard definition.  
   
   
       16 . The method of one of claims  1 ,  2 , or  4 , further comprising storing the second data in a database.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising searching the database based on at least one of the first data and the second data.