Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to a system and method for matching experts and expertise with persons requiring expert services and more particularly for a system
• Walker et al teaches a system and method for matching experts with customers.
• a customer can log onto the system and successively choose a subject area (e.g.,
• a subcategory e.g., pediatrics
• an expert level e.g., a general practitioner
• the experts' qualifications beyond the subject area, the subcategory, and the expert level are stored in an expert qualifications database,
• the system can search the expert qualifications database through any of a
• the price and time frame can be included in the customer's
• the time frame is limited to a "response time ⁇ 2.0 hours" format.
• the selected experts are notified and have the opportunity to submit bids.
• matchmaking system in which customers having questions are matched with experts. However, the matching is done between a the customer's natural-language question and
• the present invention is directed to a
• the database provides a profile of what
• the database can be used to provide
• Fig. 1 shows an overview of a system implementing the preferred embodiment
• Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of operations for accessing the service
• Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of operations for registering with the service
• Figs. 4A-4D show a Web page for data in during registration
• Figs. 5-7 show Web pages for inputting data about a user's qualifications
• Fig. 8 shows periods of availability for three experts
• Figs. 9 and 10 show matching between an expert database and a customer
• Fig. 11 shows a flow chart of operations for retrieving matches.
• Fig. 1 shows an overview of the preferred embodiment, which is implemented on
• Internet connections 108, 110 are connected to the Internet 106 through Internet connections 108, 110,
• 104 can use any type of microcomputer or other device capable of accessing the Internet.
• the expert 102 and the potential customer 104 are connected over the Internet
• customer 104 are provided with a URL through which they log in and access an expert
• Web interface 114 and a customer Web interface 116 respectively.
• matching database 122 listing which experts are a match for which customers.
• the server 112 can be any suitable Internet server capable of running such
• FIG. 2 shows a broad overview of the manner in which the expert 102 and the
• step 202 a user (either the expert 102 or
• the customer 104) goes to the server 112 in any suitable manner, e.g., by entering the server 112
• server captures the access as a count with a date/time stamp
• step 206 the user selects one of three options: registration as a new expert,
• step 208 registers in step 208 and inputs the data for the expert database 118 in step 210.
• the registered user logs in with the already established user name and password in step 212
• Fig. 3 shows the steps involved in the registration 208.
• the user can register as
• step 302. a count is captured, as in step 304.
• a welcome page is displayed.
• the welcome page can display a
• step 308 the next
• step 312 If it is determined in step 312
• step 3144 a page is displayed in step 314, having an error message explaining the need to accept the ground rules.
• step 316 the user is given the option of returning to step 202 or exiting altogether.
• step 312 If it is determined in step 312 that the user has accepted the ground rules, the user
• step 322 indicating the method of payment (typically a credit card) and the length of
• step 324 the user
• step 210 of entering the data proceeds to step 210 of entering the data.
• registration techniques are known in the art and can be used.
• Step 210 is carried out through the use of a succession of Web pages that prompt
• the information can be received through well known
• the collection of information starts with the collection of information on contact,
• the billing information can be used for extra-cost
• the user indicates whether he or she
• the user can indicate availability for a permanent job.
• the user can indicate availability for a permanent job.
• the user can indicate the length of time of availability for consulting,
• the areas 402 and 408 allow the user to indicate the start and stop dates
• the page 500 includes a drop-down box 502 listing the various areas of expertise
• the user also selects sub-areas.
• the result is the following data structure for the expert database 118.
• a radio box e.g., time of availability
• a radio box can have as its value a logical "true” or "false,”
• each of the fields corresponding to a text box can have as its value
• 112 can telephone the user to verify the input information.
• times for availability can be visualized in the same manner and can be derived from the logical "true” and "false” values stored in the database 120.
• server 112 can be configured to search only for exact matches or for exact and
• customer 104 can go through the data collection process multiple times, thereby
• Fig. 9 shows matching for the start times for availability.
• the expert has indicated availability for 2-4 weeks; therefore, the database 118 stores a one in that field
• the database 120 stores a one in that field and zeroes in the other "the assignment will probably require " fields. The ones and zeroes are compared, and in this case, a match is found. If the
• Fig. 10 shows matching for expertise.
• the database 118 stores the information that the expert has indicated expertise in the areas of business development, data
• the database 120 includes
• the matching of the databases 118 and 120 to produce the database 122 can take
• Another advantage is the ability to take advantage of slow
• Step 214 of seeing the matches will now be explained with reference to Fig. 11.
• step 1106 user is prompted in step 1106 to change the matching parameters (e.g., by resubmitting
• the user If the user has multiple service requests, the user
• step 1106 can be prompted in step 1106 to change the matching parameters in other service requests.
• the user can purchase one or more of the records,
• step 1108 the user is prompted to view either new matches or previously purchased matches, which can be selected by date ranges. If the user chooses to view
• step 1110 the user is given an opportunity in step 1110 to select the matches to view
• Each previously purchased match can be shown with the date of purchase and the payment
• step 1114 is given a choice in step 1114 to receive the records by e-mail in step 1116 or to view the
• step 1118 The user can then handle the records in a suitable manner, e.g., by printing them in step 1120, using the print command of the e-mail client
• the invention need not be limited to expert services at all, but

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• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Development Economics (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• Finance (AREA)
• Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
• Economics (AREA)
• Marketing (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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Citations (8)

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• 2000
  • 2000-10-13 EP EP00970867A patent/EP1226520A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-10-13 WO PCT/US2000/028325 patent/WO2001029708A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-10-13 AU AU80186/00A patent/AU8018600A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (8)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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