Ranking items

Abstract

A method of ranking items includes displaying a set of categories. Each category has a set of weights for a user to choose. Each item is associated with the set of categories. The method also includes displaying a search result based on the weights chosen by the user. The search result includes a ranking of the items.

1 . A method of ranking items, comprising:
 displaying a set of categories, each category having a set of weights for a user to choose, each item being associated with the set of categories; and   displaying a search result based on the weights chosen by the user, the search result including a ranking of the items.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using each category as an area of social responsibility. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying a set of factors for each category when selected by the user, each factor capable of being chosen by the user; and   collating the categories weighted by the user, the factors chosen by the user, and a product chosen by the user.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 selecting a list of companies that have the product; and   determining a rating for each company based on the categories weighted by the user and the factors chosen by the user.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein selecting a list of companies comprises:
 finding a set of brands associated with the product; and   finding the company associated with each brand.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein displaying a search result comprises displaying the search result based on the factors chosen by the user. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein displaying a search result comprises ranking the brands on a five-star scale, the five-star scale including a one-star rating, a two-star rating, a three-star rating, a four-star rating, and a five-star rating. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising using the five-star rating as the best rating of the ratings determined. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving information from an external database; and   quantifying the data on a scale.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying a search result comprises displaying a ranking of companies. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a memory that stores executable instructions for ranking items based on a set of user preferences; and   a processor that executes instructions to:
 display a set of categories, each category having a set of weights for a user to choose, each item being associated with the set of categories; and 
 display a search result based on the weights chosen by the user, the search result including a ranking of the items. 
   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions to use each category as an area of social responsibility. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions to:
 display a set of factors for each category when selected by the user, each factor capable of being chosen by the user; and   collate the categories weighted by the user, the factors chosen by the user, and a product chosen by the user.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising instructions to:
 select a list of companies that have the product; and   determine a rating for each company based on the categories weighted by the user and the factors chosen by the user.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein instructions to select a list of companies comprises instructions to:
 find a set of brands associated with the product; and   find the company associated with each brand.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein instructions to display a search result comprises instructions to display the search result based on the factors chosen by the user. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein instructions to display a search result comprises instructions to rank the brands on a five-star scale, the five-star scale including a one-star rating, a two-star rating, a three-star rating, a four-star rating, and a five-star rating. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions to use the five-star rating as the best rating of the ratings determined. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions to:
 receive information from an external database; and   quantify the data on a scale.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein instructions to display a search result comprises instructions to display a ranking of companies. 
   
   
       21 . An article comprising a machine-readable medium that stores executable instructions for ranking items based on a set of user preferences, the instructions causing a machine to:
 display a set of categories, each category having a set of weights for a user to choose, each item being associated with the set of categories; and   display a search result based on the weights chosen by the user, the search result including a ranking of the items.   
   
   
       22 . The article of  claim 21 , further comprising executable instructions causing a machine to use each category as an area of social responsibility. 
   
   
       23 . The article of  claim 21 , further comprising executable instructions causing a machine to:
 display a set of factors for each category when selected by the user, each factor capable of being chosen by the user; and   collate the categories weighted by the user, the factors chosen by the user, and a product chosen by the user.   
   
   
       24 . The article of  claim 23 , further comprising executable instructions causing a machine to:
 select a list of companies that have the product; and   determine a rating for each company based on the categories weighted by the user and the factors chosen by the user.   
   
   
       25 . The article of  claim 24 , wherein executable instructions causing a machine to select a list of companies comprises executable instructions causing a machine to:
 find a set of brands associated with the product; and   find the company associated with each brand.   
   
   
       26 . The article of  claim 25 , wherein executable instructions causing a machine to display a search result comprises executable instructions causing a machine to display the search result based on the factors chosen by the user. 
   
   
       27 . The article of  claim 26 , wherein executable instructions causing a machine to display a search result comprises executable instructions causing a machine to rank the brands on a five-star scale, the five-star scale including a one-star rating, a two-star rating, a three-star rating, a four-star rating, and a five-star rating. 
   
   
       28 . The article of  claim 27 , further comprising executable instructions causing a machine to use the five-star rating as the best rating of the ratings determined. 
   
   
       29 . The article of  claim 21 , further comprising executable instructions causing a machine to:
 receive information from an external database; and   quantify the data on a scale.   
   
   
       30 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein executable instructions causing a machine to display a search result comprises executable instructions causing a machine to display a ranking of companies.