Ebay, Incorporated

Niraj Kothari

Brian Scott Johnson

Shashi Seth

Robin Kennedy

A method and system to automatically categorize a merchant listing in an electronic marketplace are provided. The method includes parsing the category information submitted by a seller to derive a first category identifier. A first search is performed to locate the first category identifier in a first database containing a listing of category identifiers. If no match is found, the first category identifier is identified as expired or invalid. A second search is performed on a second database that includes mapping information of an expired category identifier to a new category identifier. If a match is found, the first category identifier is assigned as the new category identifier, thereby enabling the listing to be listed in the updated category automatically.

Method and system to categorize items automatically

Various embodiments disclose methods and systems to categorize automatically a merchant listing. In one example, the method includes determining a first category identifier for the merchant listing by performing a first search to compare the first category identifier with a plurality of category identifiers in a first database. Based on a determination that no match was found as a result of the first search, a second search is performed to compare the first category identifier with a plurality of category relationships in a second database. A second category identifier of the merchant listing is provided in response to a match being found in the second search and the second category identifier is associated with the merchant listing. Other methods and systems are disclosed.

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Milpitas, CA, United States of America

Niraj Kothari