Importance

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Abstract

An electronic catalog requisition system includes software for efficiently selecting items from a database. The software accepts search terms from a user, and then executes a sequence of search strategies on the database which may include a proximity search, a word count search, and a fuzzy logic search. The sequence is terminated when a search algorithm has uncovered at least one match. Each database entry has a corresponding product category. A list of categories from each of the matching products is dynamically compiled and displayed to the user. The user can page through the list of displayed matches, or alternatively can create a subset of the list by selecting only the items within one of the categories. In addition, the user can further refine the list of items by selecting those items having a particular attribute. The software can also maintain a list of synonyms for attributes as an aid for finding appropriate matches within the database. Natural adjectives to certain of the attributes are recognized as further refinements to the search criteria. The invention has the advantage that users with a wide range of skills and/or familiarity with products can quickly find the products that they need. The software has the additional feature of creating electronic requisitions for the products listed in the database.

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First Claim