Method and system for candidate matching

• US 20060080084A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: IdeaFlood, Inc.
• Inventors: Shuster, Gary Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/30 of unstructured textual data document management systems G06F16/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/337 Profile generation, learning or modification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/36 Creation of semantic tools, e.g. ontology or thesauri
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A method and system for candidate matching, such as used in match-making services, assesses narrative responses to measure candidate qualities. A candidate database includes self-assessment data and narrative data. Narrative data concerning a defined topic is analyzed to determine candidate qualities separate from topical information. Candidate qualities thus determined are included in candidate profiles and used to identify desirable candidates.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for candidate matching, comprising:

receiving narrative information from a candidate in response to a request for narrative information relating to a topic;

analyzing the narrative information using a defined algorithm to measure textual qualities of the narrative, the textual qualities having no defined relationship to the topic; and

associating the measured textual qualities of the narrative with data identifying the candidate in a candidate database for use in candidate selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step further comprises assessing an estimated educational level based on the narrative information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step further comprises assessing an estimated personality type based on the narrative information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step further comprises assessing an estimated author age based on the narrative information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step further comprises assessing an estimated author gender based on the narrative information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a topic and requesting the narrative from the candidate regarding the topic.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the generating a topic step further comprises randomly selecting the topic from a plurality of defined topics.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising assessing a degree of consistency between the textual qualities and self-reported candidate qualities.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising associating an indicator of the degree of consistency with the data identifying the candidate in the candidate database for use in candidate selection.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the narrative information comprising audio data, and converting the audio data to textual data.

11. A system for candidate matching, comprising:

a computer operably associated with a memory, the memory holding program instructions for;

receiving narrative information from a candidate in response to a request for narrative information relating to a topic;

analyzing the narrative information using a defined algorithm to measure textual qualities of the narrative, the textual qualities having no defined relationship to the topic; and

associating the measured textual qualities of the narrative with data identifying the candidate in a candidate database for use in candidate selection.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the program instructions further comprise an instruction for assessing an estimated educational level based on the narrative information.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the program instructions further comprise an instruction for assessing an estimated personality type based on the narrative information.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the program instructions further comprise an instruction for assessing an estimated author age based on the narrative information.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the program instructions further comprise an instruction for assessing an estimated author gender based on the narrative information.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the program instructions further comprise an instruction for generating a topic and. requesting the narrative from the candidate regarding the topic.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the program instructions further comprise an instruction for randomly selecting the topic from a plurality of defined topics.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the program instructions further comprise an instruction for assessing a degree of consistency between the textual qualities and self-reported candidate qualities.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the program instructions further comprise an instruction for associating an indicator of the degree of consistency with the data identifying the candidate in the candidate database for use in candidate selection.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the program instructions further comprise an instruction for receiving the narrative information comprising audio data, and converting the audio data to textual data.