Self-uploaded indexing and data clustering method and apparatus

Abstract

A self-uploaded indexing and data clustering method and apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a server device includes processing a merchant-uploaded inventory data to determine a set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data and creating an index data using the set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data. The merchant-uploaded inventory data may be compared with a previous inventory data of a particular merchant associated with both the merchant-uploaded inventory data and the previous inventory data to identify at least a portion of the set of meta-data attributes which do not need to be updated. The index data may be created using an incremental algorithm that builds on preexisting indexes which have substantially similar data as the index data.

1 . A method of a server device comprising:
 processing a merchant-uploaded inventory data to determine a set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data; and   creating an index data using the set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising converting the merchant-uploaded inventory data to a structured format prior to the processing of the merchant-uploaded inventory data having the set of meta-data attributes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising comparing the merchant-uploaded inventory data with a previous inventory data of a particular merchant associated with both the merchant-uploaded inventory data and the previous inventory data to identify at least a portion of the set of meta-data attributes which do not need to be updated. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising parsing the merchant-uploaded inventory data to extract the set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the set of meta-data attributes are at least one of an item identifier, a merchant identifier, an item description, an item price and an item brand. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising creating the index data using an incremental algorithm that builds on preexisting indexes which have substantially similar data as the index data and wherein the incremental algorithm builds on preexisting indexes by infusing into preexisting indexes the set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data other than the portion of the set of meta-data attributes which do not need to be updated. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising generating an incentive data tailored to a merchant associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data to encourage the merchant to periodically communicate revised versions of an inventory of the merchant to the server device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the incentive data is at least one of a financial incentive data, a marketing incentive data and an operational incentive data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of a server device comprising:
 analyzing a query of a client device using an index data to determine a set of meta-data attributes of the index data that match the query;   pooling the set of meta-data attributes of the index data to generate a query response;   selectively grouping the set of meta-data attributes of the query response to generate a set of data clusters; and   generating a rank of the set of data clusters based on a count of various merchants offering a particular item associated to the set of data clusters.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein selective grouping of the query response is based on applying of at least one grouping algorithm that logically associates certain items with other items through a neural network algorithm that examines and generates a meta-data associated with each of the certain items simultaneously to the generation of the data clusters. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the set of meta-data attributes of the index are associated to an inventory data communicated by a merchant device and wherein the set of meta-data attributes are at least one of an item identifier, a merchant identifier, an item description, an item price, and an item brand. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising automatically populating a mark-up language file using the set of data clusters through a client interaction module that generates a visual data structuring having a set of rows and a set of columns that logically group items of different ones of the set of data clusters based on the count of various merchants having the items in the different ones of the set of data clusters. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 generating a transaction data based on a user selection of the particular item associated to the set of data clusters; and   communicating the transaction data to an elected merchant offering the particular item.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 embedding a tracking data through a redirection of the transaction data to a mark-up language document external to the merchant device; and   generating a statistical data of referral rates to the elected merchant through the tracking data.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 processing a payment of an interested party when the mark-up language file develops a patron base above a threshold value; and   offering a subscription service on the mark-up language file associated with the interested party when the patron base is above the threshold value.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the subscription service is at least one of an advertisement space, a sponsored recommendation and a web feature. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the method of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a server device to create an index data using a set of meta-data attributes associated with an inventory data and to generate at least one grouping through a cluster algorithm that logically organizes data resultant from a query response of a user;   a merchant device to uni-directionally communicate the inventory data to the server device to improve a search result of at least some item data embedded in the inventory data; and   a client device to render a representation of the grouping and to communicate a query to the server device.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein grouping of the query response is based on selective association of the set of meta-data attributes associated with individual item matches resultant from the query response of the user.