# US 12,223,522 B2 · Probabilistic search biasing and recommendations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,223,522 B2 - Document ID: US12223522B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/654,484 - Filed: 2022-03-11 - Published: 2022-08-25 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-02 - Assignees: Mercari, Inc. - Applicants: Mercari Inc. - Inventors: Byong Mok Oh; Dhruv Mehrotra; Chiaki Osaka; Naoya Makino; Patrick Michael Wiseman; Minami Sueyasu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223522B2 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0206: {Price or cost determination based on market factors} - G06F 16/90324: {using system suggestions} - G06F 16/90335: {Query processing} - G06F 16/908: using metadata automatically derived from the content - G06F 16/951: Indexing; Web crawling techniques - G06N 3/08: Learning methods - G06Q 30/0629: {by pre-processing results, e.g. ranking or ordering results} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06N: COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS ## Abstract Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for probabilistic search biasing and recommendations. A system including at least one processor may be configured to receive an input relating to an identified item, generate a database query based on the input, and receive a response to the database query. The response may include information on comparable items similar to the identified item, and corresponding metadata for the comparable items. The corresponding metadata may include a range of values corresponding to the comparable items. The system may be further configured to generate a probability score for at least two values of the range of values, based at least on the corresponding metadata for the comparable items. The system may be further configured to output at least a suggested value based on at least the generated probability score for the range of values and prompt for further input. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method, comprising: generating, by at least one computer processor, a database query based on an input relating to an identified item; receiving, by the at least one computer processor, a response to the database query, wherein the response comprises a plurality of comparable items, wherein the plurality of comparable items have been determined to be similar to the identified item based on at least one element of textual or non-textual descriptive data corresponding both to the identified item and to the plurality of comparable items, wherein the response further comprises corresponding metadata for the plurality of comparable items, including a plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of comparable items and a type of market platform corresponding to each of the plurality of comparable items, and wherein the plurality of values are normalized for differences in the corresponding metadata due to differences in the type of market platform corresponding to each of the plurality of comparable items; generating, by the at least one computer processor, a probability score for at least two values of a range of values of the normalized plurality of values, based at least on a statistical analysis of the corresponding metadata for the plurality of comparable items; modifying, by the at least one computer processor, a search ranking of the identified item, based on availability of application program interfaces (APIs) by which the identified item can be searched; and outputting, by the at least one computer processor, at least a suggested value based on at least the generating the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values, together with a prompt for further input. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: outputting, by the at least one computer processor, at least a low value and a high value based on at least the generating the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values, together with the prompt for further input. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the at least one computer processor, the further input in response to the prompt for the further input; updating, by the at least one computer processor, the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values based on at least the further input; and outputting, by the at least one computer processor, at least the updated probability score for one of the at least two values of the range of values. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: outputting, by the at least one computer processor, a time value based on at least the corresponding metadata for the plurality of comparable items and the generating the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: receiving, by the at least one computer processor, the further input in response to the prompt for the further input; updating, by the at least one computer processor, at least one of the time value and the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values based on at least the further input; and outputting, by the at least one computer processor, at least one of the time value and the updated probability score for one of the at least two values of the range of values. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: outputting, by the at least one computer processor, at least a first high value based on at least a first given probability and a second high value based on at least a second given probability, together with the prompt for further input. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the response to the database query comprises at least one data entry derived from at least one public source or at least one third-party source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein further differences in the corresponding metadata for the plurality of comparable items include at least one of variations in item condition scales, locality based variations in pricing, and seasonal variations in pricing. ### Claim 9 A system, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to: generate a database query based on an input relating to an identified item; receive a response to the database query, wherein the response comprises a plurality of comparable items, wherein the plurality of comparable items have been determined to be similar to the identified item based on at least one element of textual or non-textual descriptive data corresponding both to the identified item and to the plurality of comparable items, wherein the response further comprises corresponding metadata for the plurality of comparable items, including a plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of comparable items and a type of market platform corresponding to each of the plurality of comparable items, and wherein the plurality of values are normalized for differences in the corresponding metadata due to differences in the type of market platform corresponding to each of the plurality of comparable items; generate a probability score for at least two values of a range of values of the normalized plurality of values, based at least on a statistical analysis of the corresponding metadata for the plurality of comparable items; modify a search ranking of the identified item, based on availability of application program interfaces (APIs) by which the identified item can be searched; and output at least a suggested value based on at least the generating the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values, together with a prompt for further input. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, the at least one processor further configured to: output at least a low value and a high value based on at least the generated probability score for the at least two values of the range of values, together with the prompt for further input. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, the at least one processor further configured to: receive the further input in response to the prompt for the further input; update the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values based on at least the further input; and output at least the updated probability score for one of the at least two values of the range of values. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, the at least one processor further configured to: output a time value based on at least the corresponding metadata for the plurality of comparable items and the generated probability score for the at least two values of the range of values. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, the at least one processor further configured to: receive the further input in response to the prompt for the further input; update at least one of the time value and the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values based on at least the further input; and output at least one of the time value and the updated probability score for one of the at least two values of the range of values. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, the at least one processor further configured to: output at least a first high value based on at least a first given probability and a second high value based on at least a second given probability, together with the prompt for further input. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the response to the database query comprises at least one data entry derived from at least one public source or at least one third-party source. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, cause the at least one computing device to perform operations comprising: generating a database query based on an input relating to an identified item; receiving a response to the database query, wherein the response comprises a plurality of comparable items, wherein the plurality of comparable items have been determined to be similar to the identified item based on at least one element of textual or non-textual descriptive data corresponding both to the identified item and to the plurality of comparable items, wherein the response further comprises corresponding metadata for the plurality of comparable items, including a plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of comparable items and a type of market platform corresponding to each of the plurality of comparable items, and wherein the plurality of values are normalized for differences in the corresponding metadata due to differences in the type of market platform corresponding to each of the plurality of comparable items; generating a probability score for at least two values of a range of values of the normalized plurality of values, based at least on a statistical analysis of the corresponding metadata for the plurality of comparable items; modifying a search ranking of the identified item, based on availability of application program interfaces (APIs) by which the identified item can be searched; and outputting at least a suggested value based on at least the generating the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values, together with a prompt for further input. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the operations further comprising: outputting at least a low value and a high value based on at least the generating the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values, together with the prompt for further input. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the operations further comprising: receiving the further input in response to the prompt for the further input; updating at least one of the time value and the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values based on at least the further input; and outputting at least the updated probability score for one of the at least two values of the range of values. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the operations further comprising: outputting a time value based on at least the corresponding metadata for the plurality of comparable items and the generating the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, the operations further comprising: receiving the further input in response to the prompt for the further input; updating the probability score for the at least two values of the range of values based on at least the further input; and outputting at least one of the time value and the updated probability score for one of the at least two values of the range of values.