The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 06, 1999
Lawrence T. Waugh, Austin, TX (US);
Steven M. List, Austin, TX (US);
pcOrder.com, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A system and method for compiling data defining objects such as, but not necessarily limited to, components to be configured into a personal computer system. With respect to such components, a predetermined array of attributes is established to characterize particular components. At least two operators, or agents, independently acquire, from a global source of relevant data, values for the attributes. In a preferred embodiment, the agents are provided with a finite set of predetermined values, or ranges of values, that is deemed to include a value that is accurate for the attribute under consideration. The agents then respectively select values for the attribute, with the selection based on the acquired values considered with respect to the predetermined values. The respective values are error checked and then compared for equality. If the values selected by the agents are equal, a value for the attribute is written into an attribute database. If the values are not equal, the discrepancy is resolved empirically. A compilation of data defining the component is then extracted from the attribute database. In order to enhance accuracy, the global source of relevant data is regularly analyzed to, for example, identify updated attribute values.