Internet-based matching service for expert consultants and customers with matching of qualifications and times of availability
First Claim
1. A method of matching a first party to a second party, the method comprising:
- (a) collecting information concerning the first party, the information comprising attributes of the first party, the attributes of the first party comprising at least one qualification of the first party and a level associated with said at least one qualification of the first party;
(b) entering the information collected in step (a) into a first database;
(c) collecting information concerning the second party, the information comprising attributes sought by the second party, the attributes sought by the second party comprising at least one qualification sought by the second party and at least one of a skill level and a priority level assigned by the second party to said at least one qualification sought by the second party;
(d) entering the information collected in step (c) into a second database;
(e) matching the first database and the second database to form a matching database;
(f) using the matching database to match the first party to the second party to form a match; and
(g) informing at least one of the first party and the second party of the match.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Internet server matches experts offering consulting services in the biological sciences or the like with potential customers of such consulting services. The server presents each expert with a Web interface through which the expert inputs his or her qualifications and times of availability. The qualifications are organized in a two-tier hierarchy of broad subject areas and sub-areas within each area. The times of availability are organized in terms of starting time of availability and duration of availability from that starting time. The server also presents each customer with a Web interface through which the customer inputs the qualification and times of availability sought. The qualifications and times are organized in the same fashion as for the expert. The customer can input multiple service requests, each with different qualifications and times of availability. The server uses the input data to match experts with customers. At first, the experts and the customers are anonymous to one another. Once either an expert or a customer chooses to purchase the record concerning a match, the record with contact information is released, and the expert and the customer can contact each other. The server provides other functions, such as allowing a physician to contact a manufacturer or a product, using only the brand name of that product; allowing companies to conduct surveys of physicians; and providing distance learning.
131 Citations
73 Claims
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1. A method of matching a first party to a second party, the method comprising:
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(a) collecting information concerning the first party, the information comprising attributes of the first party, the attributes of the first party comprising at least one qualification of the first party and a level associated with said at least one qualification of the first party;
(b) entering the information collected in step (a) into a first database;
(c) collecting information concerning the second party, the information comprising attributes sought by the second party, the attributes sought by the second party comprising at least one qualification sought by the second party and at least one of a skill level and a priority level assigned by the second party to said at least one qualification sought by the second party;
(d) entering the information collected in step (c) into a second database;
(e) matching the first database and the second database to form a matching database;
(f) using the matching database to match the first party to the second party to form a match; and
(g) informing at least one of the first party and the second party of the match. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for matching a first party to a second party, the system comprising:
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communication means for (i) collecting information concerning the first party, the information comprising attributes of the first party and an indication of at least one time period of availability of the first party, the attributes of the first party comprising at least one qualification of the first party and a level associated with said at least one qualification of the first party, and for (ii) collecting information concerning the second party, the information comprising attributes sought by the second party and an indication of at least one time period of availability sought by the second party, the attributes sought by the second party comprising at least one qualification sought by the second party and at least one of a skill level and a priority level assigned by the second party to said at least one qualification sought by the second party; and
database means for (i) entering the information concerning the first party into a first database, (ii) entering the information concerning the second party into a second database, (iii) matching the first database and the second database to form a matching database, (iv) using the matching database to match the first party to the second party to form a match, and (v) informing at least one of the first party and the second party of the match through the communication means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of matching a plurality of first parties to a plurality of second parties, the method comprising:
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(a) maintaining a database server storing;
(i) a first set of data comprising attributes of at least a first subset of the plurality of first parties;
(ii) a second set of data comprising attributes sought by at least a second subset of the plurality of second parties;
(iii) a third set of data comprising queries submitted by at least a third subset of the plurality of first parties, the queries concerning products; and
(iv) a fourth set of data identifying the products with at least a fourth subset of the plurality of second parties;
(b) producing a first set of matches by matching the plurality of first parties with the plurality of second parties in accordance with the first and second sets of data; and
(c) producing a second set of matches by matching the plurality of first parties with the plurality of second parties in accordance with the third and fourth sets of data. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for matching a plurality of first parties to a plurality of second parties, the system comprising:
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(a) a database server storing;
(i) a first set of data comprising attributes of at least a first subset of the plurality of first parties;
(ii) a second set of data comprising attributes sought by at least a second subset of the plurality of second parties;
(iii) a third set of data comprising queries submitted by at least a third subset of the plurality of first parties, the queries concerning products; and
(iv) a fourth set of data identifying the products with at least a fourth subset of the plurality of second parties; and
(b) a processor for;
(i) producing a first set of matches by matching the plurality of first parties with the plurality of second parties in accordance with the first and second sets of data; and
(ii) producing a second set of matches by matching the plurality of first parties with the plurality of second parties in accordance with the third and fourth sets of data. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A computer-implemented method for matching clinical monitors with clinical sponsors, comprising:
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creating a monitor profile for each clinical monitor;
prescreening the monitor profiles to ensure they meet predetermined qualifications;
inputting project information from the clinical sponsors;
enabling the clinical sponsors to search blinded monitor profiles for qualified clinical monitors based upon predetermined search criteria;
enabling the clinical sponsors to select the clinical monitors to view the project;
generating invitations to the selected clinical monitors, informing them that they have been selected to interview for a project, and requesting that they review the project information; and
upon acceptance of the invitation by the clinical monitors, subsequently unblinding the contact information for each monitor to the clinical sponsors. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A system for matching clinical monitors with clinical sponsors, the system comprising:
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a memory configured to store instructions; and
a processor configured to execute instructions for;
creating a monitor profile for each clinical monitor, prescreening the monitor profiles to ensure they meet predetermined qualifications, inputting project information from the clinical sponsors, enabling the clinical sponsors to search blinded monitor profiles for qualified clinical monitors based upon predetermined search criteria, enabling the clinical sponsors to select the clinical monitors to view the project, generating invitations to the selected clinical monitors, informing them that they have been selected to interview for a project, and requesting that they review the project information, and upon acceptance of the invitation by the clinical monitors, subsequently unblinding the contact information for each monitor to the clinical sponsors. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A computer-implemented method for matching clinical monitors with clinical sponsors, comprising:
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providing a web site that includes a searchable database of clinical monitor profiles and a searchable database of project information inputted by the clinical sponsors;
providing a search criteria input system which implements a search input process, the search criteria input system providing clinical sponsors with various search criteria from which the clinical sponsors may choose to vary the scope of a search for qualified clinical monitors;
displaying qualified clinical monitors who meet the search criteria; and
providing the contact information for each clinical monitor selected and who accepted the project from the clinical sponsor, the contact information being stored in the searchable database of clinical monitor profiles. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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56. A system for matching clinical monitors with clinical sponsors, comprising:
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a memory configured to store instructions; and
a processor configured to execute instructions for;
providing a web site that includes a searchable database of clinical monitor profiles and a database of project information inputted by the clinical sponsors, providing a search criteria input system which implements a search input process, the search criteria input system providing clinical sponsors with various search criteria from which the clinical sponsors may choose to vary the scoop of a search for qualified clinical monitors, displaying qualified clinical monitors who meet the search criteria, and providing the contact information for each clinical monitor selected and who accepted the project from the clinical sponsor, the contact information being stored in the searchable database of clinical monitor profiles. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
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60. A method of matching experts and customers for expert services which comprises
(I) providing a computer-readable storage medium; - and
(1) at least one user data structure stored in the medium, the user data structure comprising data concerning one or more users, where for each user, there exists a record comprising one or more fields providing contact information for the user, where the user may be an expert or a customer, (2) at least one expert data structure stored in the medium, the expert data structure comprising data concerning one or more experts, where, for each expert, there exists a record comprising (a) one or more fields defining at least one time period of availability of the expert for performing a project, and (b) one or more fields defining at least one category of expertise or experience of the expert and a level of expertise or experience of the expert with respect to each such category, (3) at least one project data structure stored in the medium, the project data structure comprising data concerning one or more projects, where, for each project, there exists a record comprising (a) one or more fields identifying the customer as a user within at least one user data structure, (b) one or more fields defining at least one desired time period of availability of an expert for performing the project, and (c) one or more fields defining the desired level of expertise or experience of the expert in each of one or more categories of expertise or experience, (II) comparing one or more records in the expert data structure with one or more records in the project data structure, and determining the degree to which there is a match on the basis of time period of availability and level of expertise or experience in one or more categories of expertise or experience, and (III) reporting the results of at least one comparison of step (II) to at least one user. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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68. A system for matching experts and customers for expert services which comprises
(I) database means comprising a computer-readable storage medium and (1) at least one user data structure stored in the medium, the user data structure comprising data concerning one or more users, where for each user, there exists a record comprising one or more fields providing contact information for the user, where the user may be an expert or a customer, (2) at least one expert data structure stored in the medium, the expert data structure comprising data concerning one or more experts, where, for each expert, there exists a record comprising (a) one or more fields defining at least one time period of availability of the expert for performing a project, and (b) one or more fields defining at least one category of expertise or experience of the expert and a level of expertise or experience of the expert with respect to each such category, (3) at least one project data structure stored in the medium, the project data structure comprising data concerning one or more projects, where, for each project, there exists a record comprising (a) one or more fields identifying the customer as a user within at least one user data structure, (b) one or more fields defining at least one desired time period of availability of an expert for performing the project, and (c) one or more fields defining the desired level of expertise or experience of the expert in each of one or more categories of expertise or experience, (II) analysis means for comparing one or more records in the expert data structure with one or more records in the project data structure, and determining the degree to which there is a match on the basis of time period of availability and level of expertise or experience in one or more categories of expertise or experience, and (III) communication means for collecting data for said data structures and reporting the results of at least one comparison made by (II) to at least one user.
Specification