Reciprocal data file publishing and matching system

Abstract

A method of reciprocally publishing and matching data files by facilitating the creation of Category A and Category B data files having a respective sets of characteristics defined utilizing a common language architecture, associating enhancement objects with each data file, identifying characteristics in each data file which must be met by other data files, weighting characteristics in each data file differently from other characteristics in the same data file, enabling the selection of participation levels for each data file in marketspaces, and matching Category A data files participating in particular marketspaces to Category B data files participating in the same marketspaces using the common language architecture, the enhancement objects, the weights and the required characteristics.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reciprocally publishing and matching data files, the method comprising the steps of:
 storing, using a processor or microprocessor coupled to a computer memory, a Category A data file having a set of characteristics corresponding to a Category A item;   storing, using said processor or microprocessor, a Category B data file having a set of characteristics corresponding to a Category B item; and   using fuzzy logic to determine, using said processor or microprocessor, the degree of fit of the Category B data file relative to the Category A data file.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of using fuzzy logic to determine the degree of fit comprises using fuzzy logic to compare a plurality of the Category B characteristics to respective Category A characteristics. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of using fuzzy logic to compare Category B characteristics to Category A characteristics comprises using fuzzy logic to determine the degree of fit of each of the plurality of Category B characteristics to a respective Category A characteristic. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Category B data file is a first Category B data file, the method further comprising the steps of:
 storing a second Category B data file;   using fuzzy logic to determine the degree of fit of the second Category B data file relative to the Category A data file; and   ordering the Category B data files according to the relative fits of the respective Category B data files.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of using fuzzy logic to determine the degree of fit of the Category A data file relative to the Category B data file, wherein the degree of fit of the Category A data file relative to the Category B data file is determined separately from the degree of fit of the Category B data file relative to the Category A data file.