Method and system for performing searches and returning results based on weighted criteria

Abstract

A method and system are provided for comparing a focal product with several comparison products. First, selecting a focal product and several attributes relating to the focal product and the comparison products, standardizing and weighting the attributes, and determining for each weighted attribute an attribute score. Next, based on the attribute score, calculating a total score for each comparison product, and based on the total score, presenting to a user or purchaser the comparison products most relevant to the user's criteria.

1 . A method of comparing a focal product with one or more comparison products, the method comprising:
 selecting said focal product and one or more attributes relating to said focal product and said one or more comparison products;   standardizing and weighting said one or more attributes;   determining for each of said one or more weighted attributes an attribute score;   based on said attribute scores, calculating a total score for each of said one or more comparison products; and   based on said total score, presenting on a presentation device said one or more comparison products in order of relevancy to said focal product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein weighting further comprises a selection of at least one of the following:
 user-weightings; and   editorial-weightings.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said one or more attributes are categorical in nature or quantitative in nature. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising
 calculating a categorical attribute score and a quantitative attribute score for each of said one or more comparison products; and   based on said categorical attribute score and said quantitative attribute score, calculating said total score for each of said one or more comparison products.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein presenting on a presentation device said one or more comparison products in order of relevancy further comprises a selection from one of the following:
 presenting said one or more comparison products having said total score indicative of said one or more comparison products having said one or more attributes substantially similar to said focal product;   presenting said one or more comparison products having said total score indicative of said one or more comparison products having said one or more attributes better than said focal product; and   presenting said one or more comparison products having said total score indicative of said one or more comparison products having said one or more attributes less than said focal product.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said one or more attributes comprise a selection of at least one of the following:
 one or more discrete in nature attributes;   one or more continuous in nature attributes;   one or more categorical in nature attributes;   one or more binary in nature attributes;   one or more aggregate in nature attributes; and   combinations thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said one or more categorical in nature attributes include one or more binary attributes, wherein said one or more binary attributes are true/false attributes. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said one or more aggregate in nature attributes comprise at least two attributes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 calculating an aggregate score for each of said at least two attributes;   combining each of said aggregate scores into a total aggregate score;   based on said categorical attribute score, said quantitative attribute score, and said total aggregate score, calculating said total score for each of said one or more comparison products.   
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . One or more computer-readable media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of determining, based on a focal product, one or more comparison products, each having one or more attributes better than, less than, or the same as said focal product, the method comprises:
 standardizing said one or more attributes;   assigning a weight to each of said one or more attributes, wherein each of said one or more attributes are of a type categorical in nature or quantitative in nature;   determining a direction for each of said one or more weighted attributes;   for each of said one or more comparison products, performing the following:
 (a) based on said direction, weight and said attribute type, calculating a categorical score and a quantitative score for each of said one or more weighted attributes; 
 (b) determining a total score based upon said categorical and quantitative scores; and 
   based on said total scores, said assigned weights, and said direction, presenting, in order of relevancy to said focal product, said one or more comparison products.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said one or more attributes comprise a selection of at least one of the following:
 one or more discrete in nature attributes;   one or more continuous in nature attributes;   one or more categorical in nature attributes;   one or more binary in nature attributes;   one or more aggregate in nature attributes; and   combinations thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said one or more aggregate in nature attributes comprise at least two distinct attributes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein weighting further comprises a selection of at least one of the following:
 user-weightings; and   editorial-weightings.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said direction comprises a selection from at least one of the following:
 said one or more attributes of said one or more comparison products are better than said one or more attributes of said focal product;   said one or more attributes of said one or more comparison products are less than said one or more attributes of said focal product;   said one or more attributes of said one or more comparison products are similar to said one or more attributes of said focal product; and   combinations thereof.