MAPPING METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20080300892A1
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Majumdar, Gautam, Godoy, Glenn C., Woodnorth, Terrence Lee, Marquez Gomez, Marco Antonio
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring

Abstract

A mapping method and system. The method includes receiving from a computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from a list of candidate skills. The computing system receives a selection of a first work location of associated with a first skill. The computing system determines a first geographical location identifier identifying a first area comprising the first work location. The computing system determines a first work region comprising the first area and the first work location. The computing system selects a first group of suppliers associated the first work region. The computing system generates a candidate request document comprising the first candidate skill, the first work region, and the first work location. The computing system transmits to the first group of suppliers the candidate request document.

Claims

1. A mapping method, comprising:

receiving, by a computing system from a requester, a command for creating a candidate request, said computing system comprising a memory device, said memory device comprising, a list of candidate skills, a list of suppliers, a list of work regions, a list of geographical location identifiers, and a list of work locations, said requester associated with a first company;

associating, by said computing system, each work region of said list of work regions with a different group of work locations of said list of work locations;

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers;

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of suppliers of said list of suppliers;

presenting, by said computing system, said list of candidate skills to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from said list of candidate skills;

receiving, from said requester by said computing system, a selection of a first work location of said list of work locations, said first work location associated with said first skill;

determining, by said computing system, a first geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers, said first geographical location identifier identifying a first area comprising said first work location;

determining, by said computing system, a first work region of said list of work regions, said first work region comprising said first area and said first work location;

selecting, by said computing system for said requester, a first group of suppliers of said list of suppliers, said first group of suppliers associated said first work region;

presenting, by said computing system to said requester, said first group of suppliers;

generating, by said computing system, a candidate request document, said candidate request document comprising said first candidate skill, said first work region, and said first work location; and

transmitting, by said computing system to said first group of suppliers, said candidate request document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of pricing rates associated with said list of suppliers, and wherein said method further comprises:

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of pricing rates of said list of pricing rates; and

selecting, by said computing system for said requester, a first group of pricing rates of said list of pricing rates, wherein said first group of pricing rates is associated with said first work region and said first group of suppliers, and wherein said request document further comprises said first group of pricing rates.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, from said requester by said computing system, input data comprising a first alphanumeric character, wherein said determining said first geographical location identifier comprises matching said first alphanumeric character to a second same alphanumeric character comprised by said first geographical identifier and displaying a group of geographical identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers comprising said second same alphanumeric character, and wherein said group of geographical identifiers comprises said first geographical identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprise a specified region, a specified city, and a specified postal code, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, said specified city, and said specified postal code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprise a specified region, and a specified city, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, and said specified city.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprise a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprises a specified region and a specified postal code, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, and said specified postal code.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a second geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers, said second geographical location identifier associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said second geographical location identifier comprises a specified region, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, and said specified region.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier and said specified country.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first work location comprises an onsite location for said first company.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first work location comprises a customer location associated with said first company.

11. A computing system comprising a processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising a list of candidate skills, a list of suppliers, a list of work regions, a list of geographical location identifiers, a list of work locations, and instructions that when executed by the processor implement a mapping method, said method comprising:

receiving, by said computing system from a requester, a command for creating a candidate request, said requester associated with a first company;

associating, by said computing system, each work region of said list of work regions with a different group of work locations of said list of work locations;

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers;

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of suppliers of said list of suppliers;

presenting, by said computing system, said list of candidate skills to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from said list of candidate skills;

receiving, from said requester by said computing system, a selection of a first work location of said list of work locations, said first work location associated with said first skill;

determining, by said computing system, a first geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers, said first geographical location identifier identifying a first area comprising said first work location;

determining, by said computing system, a first work region of said list of work regions, said first work region comprising said first area and said first work location;

selecting, by said computing system for said requester, a first group of suppliers of said list of suppliers, said first group of suppliers associated said first work region;

presenting, by said computing system to said requester, said first group of suppliers;

generating, by said computing system, a candidate request document, said candidate request document comprising said first candidate skill, said first work region, and said first work location; and

transmitting, by said computing system to said first group of suppliers, said candidate request document.

12. The computing system of claim 11, wherein said memory unit further comprises a list of pricing rates associated with said list of suppliers, and wherein said method further comprises:

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of pricing rates of said list of pricing rates; and

selecting, by said computing system for said requester, a first group of pricing rates of said list of pricing rates, wherein said first group of pricing rates is associated with said first work region and said first group of suppliers, and wherein said request document further comprises said first group of pricing rates.

13. The computing system of claim 11, wherein each geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, from said requester by said computing system, input data comprising a first alphanumeric character, wherein said determining said first geographical location identifier comprises matching said first alphanumeric character to a second same alphanumeric character comprised by said first geographical identifier and displaying a group of geographical identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers comprising said second same alphanumeric character, and wherein said group of geographical identifiers comprises said first geographical identifier.

14. The computing system of claim 11, wherein said memory unit further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprise a specified region, a specified city, and a specified postal code, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, said specified city, and said specified postal code.

15. The computing system of claim 11, wherein said memory unit further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprise a specified region, and a specified city, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, and said specified city.

16. The computing system of claim 11, wherein said memory unit further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprise a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprises a specified region and a specified postal code, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, and said specified postal code.

17. The computing system of claim 11, wherein said memory unit further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a second geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers, said second geographical location identifier associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said second geographical location identifier comprises a specified region, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, and said specified region.

18. The computing system of claim 11, wherein said memory unit further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier and said specified country.

19. The computing system of claim 11, wherein said first work location comprises an onsite location for said first company.

20. The computing system of claim 11, wherein said first work location comprises a customer location associated with said first company.

21. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium comprising a list of candidate skills, a list of suppliers, a list of work regions, a list of geographical location identifiers, a list of work locations, and a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to implement a mapping method within a computing system, said method comprising:

receiving, by said computing system from a requester, a command for creating a candidate request, said requester associated with a first company;

associating, by said computing system, each work region of said list of work regions with a different group of work locations of said list of work locations;

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers;

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of suppliers of said list of suppliers;

presenting, by said computing system, said list of candidate skills to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from said list of candidate skills;

receiving, from said requester by said computing system, a selection of a first work location of said list of work locations, said first work location associated with said first skill;

determining, by said computing system, a first geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers, said first geographical location identifier identifying a first area comprising said first work location;

determining, by said computing system, a first work region of said list of work regions, said first work region comprising said first area and said first work location;

selecting, by said computing system for said requester, a first group of suppliers of said list of suppliers, said first group of suppliers associated said first work region;

presenting, by said computing system to said requester, said first group of suppliers;

generating, by said computing system, a candidate request document, said candidate request document comprising said first candidate skill, said first work region, and said first work location; and

transmitting, by said computing system to said first group of suppliers, said candidate request document.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said computer usable medium further comprises a list of pricing rates associated with said list of suppliers, and wherein said method further comprises:

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of pricing rates of said list of pricing rates; and

selecting, by said computing system for said requester, a first group of pricing rates of said list of pricing rates, wherein said first group of pricing rates is associated with said first work region and said first group of suppliers, and wherein said request document further comprises said first group of pricing rates.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein each geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, from said requester by said computing system, input data comprising a first alphanumeric character, wherein said determining said first geographical location identifier comprises matching said first alphanumeric character to a second same alphanumeric character comprised by said first geographical identifier and displaying a group of geographical identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers comprising said second same alphanumeric character, and wherein said group of geographical identifiers comprises said first geographical identifier.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said computer usable medium further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprise a specified region, a specified city, and a specified postal code, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, said specified city, and said specified postal code.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said computer usable medium further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprise a specified region, and a specified city, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, and said specified city.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said computer usable medium further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprise a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprises a specified region and a specified postal code, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, and said specified postal code.

27. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said computer usable medium further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a second geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers, said second geographical location identifier associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said second geographical location identifier comprises a specified region, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, and said specified region.

28. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said computer usable medium further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier and said specified country.

29. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said first work location comprises an onsite location for said first company.

30. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said first work location comprises a customer location associated with said first company.

31. A process for supporting computer infrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in a computing system comprising a memory unit, said memory unit comprising a list of candidate skills, a list of suppliers, a list of work regions, a list of geographical location identifiers, and a list of work locations, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing a mapping method, said method comprising:

receiving, by said computing system from a requester, a command for creating a candidate request, said requester associated with a first company;

associating, by said computing system, each work region of said list of work regions with a different group of work locations of said list of work locations;

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers;

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of suppliers of said list of suppliers;

presenting, by said computing system, said list of candidate skills to said requester;

receiving from said requester, by said computing system, a selection of a first candidate skill from said list of candidate skills;

receiving, from said requester by said computing system, a selection of a first work location of said list of work locations, said first work location associated with said first skill;

determining, by said computing system, a first geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers, said first geographical location identifier identifying a first area comprising said first work location;

determining, by said computing system, a first work region of said list of work regions, said first work region comprising said first area and said first work location;

selecting, by said computing system for said requester, a first group of suppliers of said list of suppliers, said first group of suppliers associated said first work region;

presenting, by said computing system to said requester, said first group of suppliers;

generating, by said computing system, a candidate request document, said candidate request document comprising said first candidate skill, said first work region, and said first work location; and

transmitting, by said computing system to said first group of suppliers, said candidate request document.

32. The process of claim 31, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of pricing rates associated with said list of suppliers, and wherein said method further comprises:

associating, by said computing system, each said work region with a different group of pricing rates of said list of pricing rates; and

selecting, by said computing system for said requester, a first group of pricing rates of said list of pricing rates, wherein said first group of pricing rates is associated with said first work region and said first group of suppliers, and wherein said request document further comprises said first group of pricing rates.

33. The process of claim 31, wherein each geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, from said requester by said computing system, input data comprising a first alphanumeric character, wherein said determining said first geographical location identifier comprises matching said first alphanumeric character to a second same alphanumeric character comprised by said first geographical identifier and displaying a group of geographical identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers comprising said second same alphanumeric character, and wherein said group of geographical identifiers comprises said first geographical identifier.

34. The process of claim 31, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprise a specified region, a specified city, and a specified postal code, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, said specified city, and said specified postal code.

35. The process of claim 31, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprise a specified region, and a specified city, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, and said specified city.

36. The process of claim 31, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a plurality of geographical location identifiers of said list of geographical location identifiers, each geographical location identifier of said plurality of geographical location identifiers associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprise a specified country, wherein said plurality of geographical location identifiers comprises a specified region and a specified postal code, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, said specified region, and said specified postal code.

37. The process of claim 31, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill; and

determining, by said computing system, a second geographical location identifier of said list of geographical location identifiers, said second geographical location identifier associated with said first work location, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, wherein said second geographical location identifier comprises a specified region, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier, said specified country, and said specified region.

38. The process of claim 31, wherein said memory device further comprises a list of service type identifiers identifying service types for each candidate skill of said list of candidate skills, and wherein said method further comprises:

determining, by said computing system, a first service type identifier of said list of service type identifiers, wherein said first service type identifier identifies a first service type for said first candidate skill, wherein said first geographical location identifier comprises a specified country, and wherein said determining said first work region comprises using said first service type identifier and said specified country.

39. The process of claim 31, wherein said first work location comprises an onsite location for said first company.

40. The process of claim 31, wherein said first work location comprises a customer location associated with said first company.