Abstract: A method for legacy-based access to non-legacy data includes: receiving, at an intermediation server, a non-legacy data object containing non-legacy content; generating a legacy data object containing the non-legacy content, for storage in a repository; storing, in association with the legacy data object, a non-legacy distribution channel indicator; adjusting a legacy processing mechanism at the repository according to the non-legacy distribution channel indicator; receiving from a client subsystem, via a legacy interface, a request for the non-legacy content; and in response to the request, retrieving and sending the legacy data object containing the non-legacy content, via the legacy interface.

Abstract: A method of optimizing transmission of requests for updated content from external data sources includes: storing a data object containing initial content received from at least one of the external data sources and associated with an expiry time; storing a set of optimization parameters; obtaining an instruction to request updated content corresponding to the data object; in response to obtaining the instruction, determining, based on the optimization parameters and the expiry time, whether to request updated content from the external data sources; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting at least one update request to at least one of the external data sources based on the initial content and the optimization parameters; and in response to transmitting the at least one update request, receiving and storing respective sets of updated content from the external data sources.

Abstract: A search engine is configured to determine a set of main products that match search criteria of a search request. A search binary mask is generated based on the search criteria indicated in the search request which identify one or more ancillary products. If the search binary mask matches a reference binary mask representing the requested ancillary products, the main products are selected for the response to the search request. The search engine also verifies a current availability of the ancillary products associated with the selected main products and returns at least one of the main products for which the current availability has been determined.

Abstract: A method of optimizing transmission of requests for updated content from external data sources includes: storing a data object containing initial content received from at least one of the external data sources and associated with an expiry time; storing a set of optimization parameters; obtaining an instruction to request updated content corresponding to the data object; in response to obtaining the instruction, determining, based on the optimization parameters and the expiry time, whether to request updated content from the external data sources; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting at least one update request to at least one of the external data sources based on the initial content and the optimization parameters; and in response to transmitting the at least one update request, receiving and storing respective sets of updated content from the external data sources.

Abstract: A method of data access control in an intermediation server includes: storing a record containing: a record identifier; a plurality of sections each containing data; and in association with each section, an owner identifier selected from a set of requester identifiers corresponding to respective requester subsystems; storing access control data corresponding to each requester identifier; wherein the access control data for a given requester identifier indicates which other requester identifiers are permitted to access a section of the record having the given requester identifier associated therewith as the owner identifier; responsive to receiving, from one of the requester subsystems, a request containing the record identifier and an active one of the requester identifiers corresponding to the active requester subsystem: granting access to a subset of the sections according to the active requester identifier, the owner identifiers and the access control data.

Abstract: A method of optimizing transmission of requests for updated content from external data sources includes: storing a data object containing initial content received from at least one of the external data sources and associated with an expiry time; storing a set of optimization parameters; obtaining an instruction to request updated content corresponding to the data object; in response to obtaining the instruction, determining, based on the optimization parameters and the expiry time, whether to request updated content from the external data sources; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting at least one update request to at least one of the external data sources based on the initial content and the optimization parameters; and in response to transmitting the at least one update request, receiving and storing respective sets of updated content from the external data sources.

Abstract: A method of integrating data objects includes: storing (i) an originating record containing a first unique identifier and a first set of data fields defining a first item supplied by a first provider, and (ii) a destination record containing a second unique identifier and a second set of data fields defining a second item supplied by a second provider; receiving an instruction to merge the originating record into the destination record, the request containing the first and second unique identifiers; in response to receiving the instruction, updating the destination record by: comparing the first set of data fields with the second set of data fields; and for each data field of the first set that matches a corresponding data field of the second set, marking the corresponding data field of the second set as a shared field; and sending the updated destination record to a client device for display.

Abstract: A method of optimizing transmission of requests for updated content from external data sources includes: storing a data object containing initial content received from at least one of the external data sources and associated with an expiry time; storing a set of optimization parameters; obtaining an instruction to request updated content corresponding to the data object; in response to obtaining the instruction, determining, based on the optimization parameters and the expiry time, whether to request updated content from the external data sources; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting at least one update request to at least one of the external data sources based on the initial content and the optimization parameters; and in response to transmitting the at least one update request, receiving and storing respective sets of updated content from the external data sources.

Abstract: A method for legacy-based access to non-legacy data includes: receiving, at an intermediation server, a non-legacy data object containing non-legacy content; generating a legacy data object containing the non-legacy content, for storage in a repository; storing, in association with the legacy data object, a non-legacy distribution channel indicator; adjusting a legacy processing mechanism at the repository according to the non-legacy distribution channel indicator; receiving from a client subsystem, via a legacy interface, a request for the non-legacy content; and in response to the request, retrieving and sending the legacy data object containing the non-legacy content, via the legacy interface.

Abstract: A server: receives from at least one provider system, at least one provider object that includes provider object data representing at least one item provided by the provider system(s); generates an intermediation object, corresponding to the at least one provider object, including an intermediation object identifier that identifies the intermediation object and intermediation object data populated with at least a subset of the provider object data, the intermediation object and the intermediation object identifier omitting: the provider object data, and any provider object identifier in an original form; and provides the intermediation object, in place of the at least one provider object, to a client device that requested the at least one item, the intermediation object provided. The intermediation object identifier may enable the server to intermediate between the client device and the provider system(s) without storing the provider object and/or any provider object identifier.

Abstract: A method for legacy-based access to non-legacy data includes: receiving, at an intermediation server, a non-legacy data object containing non-legacy content; generating a legacy data object containing the non-legacy content, for storage in a repository; storing, in association with the legacy data object, a non-legacy distribution channel indicator; adjusting a legacy processing mechanism at the repository according to the non-legacy distribution channel indicator; receiving from a client subsystem, via a legacy interface, a request for the non-legacy content; and in response to the request, retrieving and sending the legacy data object containing the non-legacy content, via the legacy interface.

Abstract: A method of aggregating and updating heterogeneous data objects for a client subsystem includes: storing a set of data object definitions, each defining a mapping between an aggregated data object format and a plurality of supplier data object formats; storing a set of update definitions, each defining a mapping between an aggregated update operation and a plurality of supplier update mechanisms; receiving a data object in a supplier data object formats; selecting, based on the supplier data object format of the received data object, a data object definitions and generating an aggregated data object according to the selected definition; presenting the generated aggregated data object to the client subsystem; receiving an aggregated update operation from the client subsystem for updating the aggregated data object; and selecting, based on the received aggregated update operation, one of the update definitions and initiating a supplier update mechanism according to the selected update definition.

Abstract: A method of optimizing transmission of requests for updated content from external data sources includes: storing a data object containing initial content received from at least one of the external data sources and associated with an expiry time; storing a set of optimization parameters; obtaining an instruction to request updated content corresponding to the data object; in response to obtaining the instruction, determining, based on the optimization parameters and the expiry time, whether to request updated content from the external data sources; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting at least one update request to at least one of the external data sources based on the initial content and the optimization parameters; and in response to transmitting the at least one update request, receiving and storing respective sets of updated content from the external data sources.

Abstract: A method for legacy-based access to non-legacy data includes: receiving, at an intermediation server, a non-legacy data object containing non-legacy content; generating a legacy data object containing the non-legacy content, for storage in a repository; storing, in association with the legacy data object, a non-legacy distribution channel indicator; adjusting a legacy processing mechanism at the repository according to the non-legacy distribution channel indicator; receiving from a client subsystem, via a legacy interface, a request for the non-legacy content; and in response to the request, retrieving and sending the legacy data object containing the non-legacy content, via the legacy interface.

Abstract: A search engine is configured to determine a set of main products that match search criteria of a search request. A search binary mask is generated based on the search criteria indicated in the search request which identify one or more ancillary products. If the search binary mask matches a reference binary mask representing the requested ancillary products, the main products are selected for the response to the search request. The search engine also verifies a currently availability of the ancillary products associated with the selected main products and returns at least one of the main products for which the current availability has been determined.

Abstract: A method of data access control in an intermediation server includes: storing a record containing: a record identifier; a plurality of sections each containing data; and in association with each section, an owner identifier selected from a set of requester identifiers corresponding to respective requester subsystems; storing access control data corresponding to each requester identifier; wherein the access control data for a given requester identifier indicates which other requester identifiers are permitted to access a section of the record having the given requester identifier associated therewith as the owner identifier; responsive to receiving, from one of the requester subsystems, a request containing the record identifier and an active one of the requester identifiers corresponding to the active requester subsystem: granting access to a subset of the sections according to the active requester identifier, the owner identifiers and the access control data.

Abstract: A server: receives from at least one provider system, at least one provider object that includes provider object data representing at least one item provided by the provider system(s); generates an intermediation object, corresponding to the at least one provider object, including an intermediation object identifier that identifies the intermediation object and intermediation object data populated with at least a subset of the provider object data, the intermediation object and the intermediation object identifier omitting: the provider object data, and any provider object identifier in an original form; and provides the intermediation object, in place of the at least one provider object, to a client device that requested the at least one item, the intermediation object provided. The intermediation object identifier may enable the server to intermediate between the client device and the provider system(s) without storing the provider object and/or any provider object identifier.

Abstract: A method of aggregating and updating heterogeneous data objects for a client subsystem includes: storing a set of data object definitions, each defining a mapping between an aggregated data object format and a plurality of supplier data object formats; storing a set of update definitions, each defining a mapping between an aggregated update operation and a plurality of supplier update mechanisms; receiving a data object in a supplier data object formats; selecting, based on the supplier data object format of the received data object, a data object definitions and generating an aggregated data object according to the selected definition; presenting the generated aggregated data object to the client subsystem; receiving an aggregated update operation from the client subsystem for updating the aggregated data object; and selecting, based on the received aggregated update operation, one of the update definitions and initiating a supplier update mechanism according to the selected update definition.

Abstract: A method of integrating data objects includes: storing (i) an originating record containing a first unique identifier and a first set of data fields defining a first item supplied by a first provider, and (ii) a destination record containing a second unique identifier and a second set of data fields defining a second item supplied by a second provider; receiving an instruction to merge the originating record into the destination record, the request containing the first and second unique identifiers; in response to receiving the instruction, updating the destination record by: comparing the first set of data fields with the second set of data fields; and for each data field of the first set that matches a corresponding data field of the second set, marking the corresponding data field of the second set as a shared field; and sending the updated destination record to a client device for display.

Abstract: A method of aggregating and updating heterogeneous data objects for a client subsystem includes: storing a set of data object definitions, each defining a mapping between an aggregated data object format and a plurality of supplier data object formats; storing a set of update definitions, each defining a mapping between an aggregated update operation and a plurality of supplier update mechanisms; receiving a data object in a supplier data object formats; selecting, based on the supplier data object format of the received data object, a data object definitions and generating an aggregated data object according to the selected definition; presenting the generated aggregated data object to the client subsystem; receiving an aggregated update operation from the client subsystem for updating the aggregated data object; and selecting, based on the received aggregated update operation, one of the update definitions and initiating a supplier update mechanism according to the selected update definition.