Methods and apparatus for implementing a multi-lingual catalog system

1. In a computer system, a method of distributing product data stored in at least one computer readable storage medium for generating an electronic catalog, comprising:

capturing product data for a plurality of products according to a data model, the data model having one or more classes, each one of the one or more classes being defined by one or more categories, each of the one or more categories being defined by an attribute group having one or more attributes;

storing the product data in said at least one computer readable storage medium, wherein the stored product data is suitable for use in an electronic catalog;

receiving language availability information indicative of a plurality of languages in which the product data associated with the plurality of products are available;

receiving a customer profile that specifies one or more of the plurality of products for which product data is to be transmitted to the customer for use in generating an electronic catalog;

receiving a set of language selections from the customer indicating a plurality of languages in which the product data is to be transmitted to the customer;

storing the set of language selections for the customer in said at least one computer readable storage medium such that the set of language selections is associated with the customer profile;

distributing the stored product data to the customer in accordance with the customer profile in the plurality of languages indicated in the set of language selections; and

incorporating said product data into an electronic catalog.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein providing the product data comprises:

providing a translation for one or more of the attributes associated with the products specified in the customer profile.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein providing a translation for one or more of the attributes associated with the products specified in the customer profile comprises:

providing a translation associated with one or more values associated with the one or more attributes; and

providing a translation associated with one or more units associated with the one or more attributes.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein providing the product data in the plurality of languages comprises:

providing a translation for at least one of a class, a category, an attribute group, and an attribute associated with the product.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the customer profile further identifies customer searchable attribute preferences that specify attributes associated with the one or more of the plurality of products for which values are to be transmitted;

obtaining attribute values for the specified attributes from the system product data file; and

wherein providing the product data includes generating a vocabulary file in the plurality of languages based upon the specified attributes for which attribute values were obtained.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of products are manufactured by a plurality of manufacturers.

7. An apparatus for distributing data for generating an electronic catalog, comprising:

means for capturing product data for a plurality of products according to a data model, the data model having one or more classes, each one of the one or more classes being defined by one or more categories, each of the one or more categories being defined by an attribute group having one or more attributes;

means for storing the product data and retrieving the stored product data, wherein the stored product data is suitable for use in an electronic catalog;

means for receiving language availability information indicative of a plurality of languages in which the product data associated with the plurality of products are available;

means for receiving a customer profile indicating one or more of the plurality of products for which product data is to be transmitted to the customer for use in generating an electronic catalog;

means for receiving a set of language selections from the customer indicating a plurality of languages in which the product data is to be transmitted to the customer;

means for storing the set of language selections for the customer such that the set of language selections is associated with the customer profile; and

means for distributing the stored product data to the customer in accordance with the customer profile in the plurality of languages indicated in the set of language selections.

8. An apparatus for distributing data for generating an electronic catalog, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor and the memory being adapted for:

capturing product data for a plurality of products according to a data model, said plurality of products being manufactured by a plurality of manufacturers, the data model having one or more classes, each one of the one or more classes being defined by one or more categories, each of the one or more categories being defined by an attribute group having one or more attributes;

storing the product data, wherein the stored product data is suitable for use in an electronic catalog;

receiving language availability information indicative of a plurality of languages in which the product data associated with the plurality of products are available;

receiving a customer profile from a customer indicating one or more of the plurality of products for which product data is to be transmitted to the customer for use in generating a catalog;

receiving a set of language selections from the customer indicating a plurality of languages in which the product data is to be transmitted to the customer;

storing the set of language selections for the customer such that the set of language selections is associated with the customer profile; and

distributing the product data in accordance with the customer profile to the customer in the plurality of languages indicated in the set of language selections for incorporation in an electronic catalog.

9. A computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions for distributing product data for use in an electronic catalog, comprising:

instructions for capturing product data for a plurality of products according to a data model, said plurality of products being manufactured by a plurality of manufacturers, the data model having one or more classes, each one of the one or more classes being defined by one or more categories, each of the one or more categories being defined by an attribute group having one or more attributes;

instructions for storing the product data, wherein the stored product data is suitable for use in an electronic catalog;

instructions for receiving language availability information indicative of a plurality of languages in which the product data associated with the plurality of products are available;

instructions for receiving a customer profile from a customer indicating one or more of the plurality of products for which product data is to be transmitted to the customer for use in generating a catalog;

instructions for receiving a set of language selections from the customer indicating one or more languages in which the product data is to be transmitted to the customer;

instructions for storing the set of language selections for the customer such that the set of language selections is associated with the customer profile, and

instructions for distributing the stored product data to the customer in accordance with the customer profile in the plurality of languages indicated in the set of language selections for incorporation into an electronic catalog.