Systems and methods for providing search results incorporating supply chain information
AssigneeW.W. Grainger, Inc.
InventorGeoffry A. Westphal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A systems and methods for providing a search refinement tools that incorporate contextual information, such as supply chain information is disclosed. In general, the example methods and systems provide the customer with the ability to refine search results on an e-commerce website using previously stored historical supply chain information. Supply chain information refers to historical information about a purchaser and the purchaser's previous purchases.
Claims20
A non-transient, computer readable media having stored thereon instructions for providing access to a contextual-based search refinement functionality related to a user search within an electronic vendor system, the instructions performing steps comprising:
- for a user, storing in a data repository at least one category of contextual information based upon the user's past behavior;
- causing a page to be displayed on a client computing device, the page comprising a search access point in which a search term is enterable;
- recognizing the identity of the user;
- in response to an entering of the search term in the search access point causing the vendor system to query the data repository to retrieve the at least one category of contextual information associated with the user;
- causing at least one user interface elements, each corresponding to the at least one category of contextual information to be presented on the client computing device;
- and
- in response to a selection of one of the user interface elements from the presented plurality of user interface elements causing a performance by the vendor system to display at least one search results corresponding to the at least one category of contextual information corresponding to the selected user interface element.
A system for providing access to a contextual-based search refinement functionality related to a user search within an electronic vendor system, comprising:
- a data repository that, for a user stores at least one category of contextual information based upon the user's past behavior;
- a server in communication with the data repository;
- a client computing device in communication with the server which displays a page comprising a search access point in which a search term is enterable;
- wherein upon the system recognizing the identity of the user, and in response to the user entering the search term in the search access point, the vendor system queries the data repository to retrieve the at least one category of contextual information associated with the user;
- wherein at least one user interface elements, each corresponding to the at least one category of contextual information is presented on the client computing device;
- and
- wherein in response to a selection of one of the user interface elements from the presented plurality of user interface elements the vendor system displays at least one search results corresponding to the at least one category of contextual information corresponding to the selected user interface element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.