System and method for using social networks for the distribution of communications

• US 20060036641A1
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hoover's Incorporated (Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hoover's Incorporated (Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brydon, Antony, Patterson, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US11/193,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036641A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for facilitating the distribution of a communication, for example, using one or more enterprise applications. According to one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining information regarding one or more entities. Using a software application, hardware device or combination thereof, a given entity is selected from the one or more entities. A given member of the enterprise is selected based on a path between the given member of the enterprise and a given entity, the path identified by the information regarding the given entity. A communication is addressed from the given member of the enterprise to the given entity.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the distribution of a communication using a social network, the method comprising:

obtaining information regarding one or more entities;

selecting a given entity from the one or more entities;

selecting a given member of the enterprise based on a path between the given member of the enterprise and a given entity, the path identified by the information regarding the given entity;

addressing a communication from the given member of the enterprise to the given entity; and

transmitting the communication to the given entity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a given entity includes an entity selected from the group comprising an individual and an organization.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising prioritizing the information regarding the one or more entities.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein prioritizing comprises prioritizing according to the path between the one or more entities and the one or more members of the enterprise.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein prioritizing comprising prioritizing according to a strength of the path between the one or more entities and the one or more members of the enterprise.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising generating a visual indication of the path between the one or more entities and the one or more members of the enterprise.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising generating a visual indication of a strength of the path between the one or more members of the enterprise and the one or more entities.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a given member of the enterprise comprises selecting based on a strength of the path between the given member and the given entity.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising allowing the communication to be personalized by the given member.

10. The method of claim 1 comprising providing the communication to the given member for approval.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising:

determining if the given member approves the communication;

if the given member does not approve the communication, selecting a second given member of the enterprise based on the a path between the second given member and the given entity;

addressing the communication from the second given member to the given entity; and

transmitting the communication to the given entity.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising:

if no member approves the communication, addressing the communication from the enterprise to the given entity; and

transmitting the communication to the given entity.

13. The method of claim 1 comprising tracking a response to the communication from the given entity.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising determining the effectiveness of a campaign based on the tracked response to the communication from the given entity.

15. The method of claim 1 comprising displaying the path between the one or more entities and the or more members of the enterprise in conjunction with an application selected from the group comprising a CRM application, an SFA application, an HRM application and a messaging application.

16. A method for facilitating the distribution of a communication using a social network, the method comprising:

obtaining information regarding one or more entities;

selecting a given entity from the one or more entities;

identifying a path between one or more members of the enterprise and the given entity; and

transmitting a communication through the one or more members of the enterprise to the given entity according to the path.