Abstract: Techniques for generating representative images are disclosed herein. In particular, various embodiments utilize an image generation service to generate representative images for categories and sub-categories of objects. Each representative image can be a stylized depiction of an aggregated image corresponding to a particular category of objects. A user can refine the search, or continue to browse, by selecting one of the representative images. This enables users to quickly identify features the user is looking for or would like to exclude, by depicting the sort of objects associated with that category.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for recommending a list of digital media to a user based upon digital media that the user is currently consuming. The list of recommendations is generated from an analysis of the digital media. Subsequently, the list of recommendations is stored on the user's device, and the user is alerted to the list's existence through the rendering of a notification on the user's display. Upon selection of an item from the list of recommendations, the selected digital media is rendered on the display of the user's device within the context of the user's application.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for defining subcategories of items to be used in merchandising. The subcategories may be defined on the basis of item data and/or sales data for the items. Based on a distribution of the items in accordance with one or more of the item and/or sales data, implicit groups or subcategories can be identified and selected for merchandising purposes.

Abstract: A computing system for searching for and identifying data repository deficits includes an interactive database of items, a data repository that stores a first type of information related to items, a search engine configured to identify items that do not have an amount of the first type of information that meets a first threshold, a candidate selection interface that provides functionality for the user to select an item from recommended candidate items needing the first type of information, a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user, a game system configured to calculate for a game scores and rankings based at least in part on data stored in the data repository.

Abstract: The present technology may identify item category affinities by identifying a plurality of classifications of an item. An accuracy of the plurality of classifications relative to one another for the item may be identified. A category affinity of the item may be determined based on the accuracy of the plurality of classifications relative to one another.

Abstract: Tag merging enables a hosting entity such as a website to determine one or more tags that are logically-related to a particular tag and to present these tags to users to enable the users to vote whether to merge a logically-related tag with the particular tag. The hosting entity may determine these logically-related tags in multiple ways. For instance, the hosting entity may analyze keyword-to-keyword similarity data, item-overlap data, or may employ stemming logic. When the entity presents these tags to a user, the user may vote to merge the particular tag with one or more of the presented logically-related tags. When merged, items associated with the selected logically-related tag may become associated with the particular tag, or vice versa. Additionally, the selected tag may be removed from the items previously associated with the selected tag, or vice versa.

Abstract: Tag scoring for elements associated with a common tag enables a user to conduct a tag search and view a listing of elements associated with the tag. The listing can be ordered by each element's tag score. To create such a tag score, users may associate an element with one or more tags that characterize the element. A tag score may then be assigned to this element for each assigned tag and may be based on a multitude of factors. These factors may include a number of times that the element has been tagged with the assigned tag and users' votes on the accuracy of the assigned tag to the element. Tag-scoring factors may include, among others, an age of a tag associated with the element, a click rate for the element, a customer review of the element, a sales rank for the element, or an availability of the element.

Abstract: A system may use search refinements to identify new product trends. These product trends may be associated with attributes or product features that may previously have been available, but are newly of interest to a users. The system may compare search refinements used by users during an earlier time period with search refinements used during a more recent time period to identify search refinements that are used more often during the later time period. Based on this comparison, the system can identify a product feature that is of interest to users during the later time period, but not the earlier time period. The system can then recommend products with the product feature to potential customers. Further, if the product feature was not available during the earlier time period, the system can identify to potential customers that the product feature is newly available in relation to the earlier time period.

Abstract: Displaying communities associated with personalized data provides a user with access to relevant communities based on the user's activity with an electronic catalog. The communities include content which may be manipulated by user activity or non-user activity. The communities may facilitate user discussion or viewing of information related to the user's interests. The communities may be associated with elements associated with user interaction and/or based off recommended elements or categories associated with the user. Communities may be ranked or scored to improve the relevancy of the community for the user. Communities may be displayed with, for example, a personalized page for the user that may include other user recommendations, or the communities may be associated with other personalized pages within a website, among other possibilities.

Abstract: A system may identify new features of items represented in an electronic catalog by comparing the attributes of items from an earlier time period (e.g., 1 to 3 years ago) with the attributes of items from a later or more recent time period (e.g., today) for a given items classification. By identifying attributes associated with items from the later time period, but not with items from the earlier time period, the system can identify new features associated with the given items classification. In some cases, the system may use search behaviors of users to assess whether such new features are important to users.

Abstract: Criterion-based feedback allows users to provide useful information in a quick and easy to understand fashion. When information for an item is relayed to a user, the user is provided with the ability to provide feedback for any criteria relating to the item. In some embodiments, this feedback takes the form of a submission of a response to a question or statement pertaining to a criterion for the item. The user is able to create new responses if the existing responses do not adequately convey the feedback that the users wishes to submit. Further, a user can also submit entirely new questions and/or statements, along with corresponding new responses, that correspond to a criterion relating to the item. Such an approach provides flexibility for users to quickly and easily provide feedback on specific criteria that might be useful for other users viewing information for that item.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for browsing an electronic hierarchical product catalog. The catalog is organized as a tree data structure with each node corresponding to an item category, an item sub-category, or an attribute that describes characteristics of items in a category. Such attributes may be used as filters for searching for an item or item category. The catalog tree is a collection of linked independent sub-trees including category and attribute sub-trees. The sub-trees allow navigation of the catalog tree via links between various nodes. The sub-trees may be linked to multiple other sub-trees, providing easy navigation for users and simplifying the addition of new sub-categories and attributes to the catalog tree, for service providers. The use of linked sub-trees also allows attributes set by the user in a previous search to be used in a subsequent search for a similar item.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for defining subcategories of items to be used in merchandising. The subcategories may be defined on the basis of item data and/or sales data for the items. Based on a distribution of the items in accordance with one or more of the item and/or sales data, implicit groups or subcategories can be identified and selected for merchandising purposes.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for defining subcategories of product items to be used in merchandising. The subcategories may be defined on the basis of product data and/or sales data for the product items. Based on a distribution of the product items in accordance with one or more of the product and/or sales data, implicit groups or subcategories can be identified and selected for merchandising purposes.

Abstract: A computing system for searching for and identifying data repository deficits includes an interactive database of items, a data repository that stores a first type of information related to items, a search engine configured to identify items that do not have an amount of the first type of information that meets a first threshold, a candidate selection interface that provides functionality for the user to select an item from recommended candidate items needing the first type of information, a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user, a game system configured to calculate for a game scores and rankings based at least in part on data stored in the data repository.

Abstract: A computing system for searching for and identifying data repository deficits includes an interactive database of items, a data repository that stores a first type of information related to items, a search engine configured to identify items that do not have an amount of the first type of information that meets a first threshold, a candidate selection interface that provides functionality for the user to select an item from recommended candidate items needing the first type of information, a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user, a game system configured to calculate for a game scores and rankings based at least in part on data stored in the data repository.

Abstract: A system can compare a newer model of a product to an older model of a product to determine attributes or features that are new to the newer model of the product. The system can then identify other products in the same product category as the newer model of the product that includes the new attribute or product feature. The system can recommend one or more of the products with the new product feature to a potential customer. In some cases, the system may identify an average upgrade time interval for upgrading the product. Then, if the system determines that the upgrade time interval has elapsed since a user obtained the older model of the product, the system can recommend the newer model of the product and/or other products that include the new product feature to the user.

Abstract: Relative ranking of items is performed based on a subjective attribute of the items. A user interface that displays the relative ranking of the items includes an axis that corresponds to the subject attribute. The user interface further includes a display section that displays representations of the items along the axis according to rankings relative to the subjective attribute. The display section is also to present one or more additional items in response to customer input.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of generating item recommendations. A user submitted query associated with a category of items in an electronic repository is received, each of the items being associated with reviews. Reviews relevant to the user submitted query are identified. Reviews relevant to the user submitted query are displayed with a user voting element. The user voting element allows a user to vote whether the review is relevant to the user query. Further relevance to the user submitted query is determined based at least upon the vote.

Abstract: A computing system for searching for and identifying data repository deficits includes an interactive database of items, a data repository that stores a first type of information related to items, a search engine configured to identify items that do not have an amount of the first type of information that meets a first threshold, a candidate selection interface that provides functionality for the user to select an item from recommended candidate items needing the first type of information, a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user, a game system configured to calculate for a game scores and rankings based at least in part on data stored in the data repository.