Content aggregation method and apparatus for on-line purchasing system

A computer implemented method for creating a database of allied product information from at least one information source having a data structure, said method comprising:

• receiving, by a computing device, data from at least one information source;
• identifying, by a computing device, product information for multiple products within the data based on computational linguistics;
• determining, by a computing device, a level of relationship between the product information based on the data structure;
• and
• setting, by a computing device, a set of products as allied products if the level of relationship corresponds to a predetermined threshold.

A computer system for determining allied product information for products corresponding to product records stored in a computer readable catalog structure including categories, the product records having attributes associated therewith, the system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory device operatively coupled to said at least one processor and having computer executable instructions recorded thereon which, when executed by said at least one processor, cause said at least one processor to carry out the method comprising;
• identifying at least one first attribute of at least one first product record;
• identifying at least one second attribute of at least one second product record;
• comparing the at least one first attribute with the at least one second attribute;
• resolving a relationship in the catalog between the at least one first product record and the at least one second product record;
• and
• determining whether the at least one first product record and the at least one second product record correspond to allied products based on the said comparing step and said resolving steps.

A computer system for creating a database of allied product information from at least one information source having a data structure, said system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory device operatively coupled to said at least one processor and having computer executable instructions recorded thereon which, when executed by said at least one processor, cause said at least one processor to carry out the method comprising;
• receiving data from at least one information source;
• identifying product information for multiple products within the data based on computational linguistics;
• determining a level of relationship between the product information based on the data structure;
• and
• setting a set of products as allied products if the level of relationship corresponds to a predetermined threshold.