METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ITEM SHIPMENT BASED ON INCOMPLETE INFORMATION

摘要

Methods and systems for coordinating shipping services for items. Generally, the methods and systems assist a user in determining the cost of shipping items where the user does not have all of the information typically required by a carrier. The method includes receiving an inquiry for a shipping cost with a generic description of the one or more items, where the generic description omits a value for at least one physical characteristic of an item. The method includes identifying, responsive to receiving the generic description, an estimate for the omitted value using a knowledge base, and generating a shipping cost. In some implementations, a server receives, from a second party, an improved description of the item including a more accurate value for the omitted characteristic of the item, and the server then updates the knowledge base, storing the second value for the characteristic of the item.

主权项

1. A method of estimating descriptive information for an object, the method comprising:
providing an interface to a first party, the interface providing the first party with a plurality of options for describing an item; receiving, via the interface, selections of one or more options in the plurality of options, the selections forming a first description of the item, the first description omitting a characteristic of the item; generating a second description of the item based on a comparison of the first description to a knowledge base of item descriptions, the second description including an estimated value for the characteristic of the item derived from the knowledge base of item descriptions; providing a cost for shipment of the item based on the second description; obtaining, from a second party different from the first party, a third description of the item including a second value for the characteristic of the item; and storing, in the knowledge base, the second value for the characteristic of the item.