Automated ranking of online service or product providers
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
- Receiving, by the computer system, an electronic request for providers of a product or service;
Searching, by the computer system, an electronically stored profile in a resource management system for data identifying the providers, the electronically stored profile identifying contacts of the user;
Searching, by the computer system, for information regarding the providers by accessing, over the network, a plurality of external online social networks, wherein each of the external online social networks is accessed via a common application programming interface (API) framework;
Searching, by the computer system, for information regarding the providers through a plurality of internal referral networks having stored contact profiles electronically linked to the contacts, wherein the contact profiles are references via an array of pointers that point to locations in a database storing the contact profiles, wherein a first internal referral network from the plurality of internal referral networks is accessed via a first proprietary API framework, and wherein a second internal referral network from the plurality of internal referral networks is accessed via a second proprietary API framework;
Identifying, by the computer system, referral ratings stored in the resource management system for the contacts, wherein the referral ratings indicate a quality of referrals provided by the contacts;
Identifying the contacts having a network director status, the network director status being active or passive;
Ranking, by a ranking module of the computer system, the providers based on the referral ratings of the contacts;
Sending, by the computer system, the ranking over the network for displaying on the computer device; and
Displaying the providers to the user based on the network director status of the contacts.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An online computer system is configured to receive requests from seekers for products or services and to provide the seekers and products a place to complete work once connected. The computer system searches through personal contacts of the seekers for trusted providers of the product or service request based on their proximity to the seekers. The computer system is configured to search through contacts within referral networks of the personal contacts for level-1 and level-2 providers of the product or service request. The level-2 providers might be more reliable because they are referred through the personal contacts of the seekers. The providers and referral contacts of the referrals can be rated and then provider candidates ranked according to the associated provider and referral ratings.
8 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
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Receiving, by the computer system, an electronic request for providers of a product or service; Searching, by the computer system, an electronically stored profile in a resource management system for data identifying the providers, the electronically stored profile identifying contacts of the user; Searching, by the computer system, for information regarding the providers by accessing, over the network, a plurality of external online social networks, wherein each of the external online social networks is accessed via a common application programming interface (API) framework; Searching, by the computer system, for information regarding the providers through a plurality of internal referral networks having stored contact profiles electronically linked to the contacts, wherein the contact profiles are references via an array of pointers that point to locations in a database storing the contact profiles, wherein a first internal referral network from the plurality of internal referral networks is accessed via a first proprietary API framework, and wherein a second internal referral network from the plurality of internal referral networks is accessed via a second proprietary API framework; Identifying, by the computer system, referral ratings stored in the resource management system for the contacts, wherein the referral ratings indicate a quality of referrals provided by the contacts; Identifying the contacts having a network director status, the network director status being active or passive; Ranking, by a ranking module of the computer system, the providers based on the referral ratings of the contacts; Sending, by the computer system, the ranking over the network for displaying on the computer device; and Displaying the providers to the user based on the network director status of the contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
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Receiving, by the computer system, a request for providers of goods or services; Searching, by the computer system, for the providers in a plurality of internal referral networks storing contacts, wherein a first internal referral network from the plurality of internal referral networks is accessed via a first proprietary application programming interface (API) framework, and wherein a second internal referral network from the plurality of internal referral networks is accessed via a second proprietary API framework; Searching by the computer system, for the providers in a plurality of external online social networks, wherein each of the external online social networks is accessed via a common API framework; Identifying, by the computer system, provider ratings of the providers, the provider ratings indicating quality levels for projects performed by the providers; Identifying the contacts having a network director status, the network director status being active or passive; Identifying, by the computer system, referral ratings for the contacts associated with the internal referral networks, the referral ratings indicating a quality of referrals provided by the contacts; Ranking, by the computer system, the providers based on the provider ratings for the providers and the referral ratings for the contacts; Displaying the providers to the user based on the network director status of the contacts. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification