APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INFORMATION SHARING ACROSS ORGANIZATIONS

• US 20090024441A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mehran Mehregany
• Original Assignee: Mehran Mehregany
• Inventors: MEHREGANY, MEHRAN
• Application Number:
  US12/039,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024441A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method of leveraging disperse expertise is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a problem to be solved; searching a database of experts; locating one or more experts to solve the problem; reviewing a profile of each of the one or more experts located in the search; drafting a request for proposal information/request for information which includes a discussion of the problem; sending the request for proposal/request for information to the team of experts; receiving responses to the request for proposals/request for information from the team of experts; and utilizing the response to help find a solution to the problem.

Claims

1. A method of leveraging disperse expertise comprising:

a) identifying a problem to be solved;

b) searching a database of experts;

c) locate one or more experts to solve the problem d) reviewing a profile of each of the one or more experts located in the search;

e) drafting a request for proposal information/request for information which includes a discussion of the problem;

f) sending the request for proposal/request for information to the team of experts;

g) receiving responses to the request for proposals/request for information form the team of experts; and

h) utilizing the responses to help find a solution to the problem.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of searching a database of experts further comprises using keyword search and search limitations to search a database of experts.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving information about a member of the organization and storing it in a profile in the expert database.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating a request for proposal/request for information further comprises using a predefined template to generate the request for proposal/request for information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of drafting a request for proposal/request for information further comprises attaching supporting documents to the request.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein all the individuals are employed by a first organization.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein some of the individuals are employed by a first organization and some by a second organization, the team of experts including individuals from the first organization and the second organization.

8. A system for locating experts to facilitate problem solving comprising:

a server computer having a processor and memory the sever operable to;

a) receive a request to search a database of experts;

b) send a listing of profiles for each expert located in the search;

c) receive and store a listing of a team of experts selected from the listing of profiles;

d) distribute a request for proposal/request for information to a distribution list including one or more of the team members; and

e) distribute responses to the request for proposal/request for information to the author of the request for proposal/request for information.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the step of searching a database of experts further comprises using keyword search and search limitations to search a database of experts.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising the step of receiving information about a member of the organization and storing it in a profile in the expert database.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein a predefined template is used generate a request for proposal/request for information further comprises using generate the request for proposal/request for information.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein supporting documents are attached to the request for proposal/request for information.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein all the individuals are employed by a first organization.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein some of the individuals are employed by a first organization and some by a second organization, the team of experts including individuals from the first organization and the second organization.

15. A system for facilitating the location and utilization of experts comprising:

a personal information component, the personal information component allowing a user to store information regarding the users expertise and experience;

an expert profile component, the expert profile component allowing the user to review the information regarding other user'"'"'s expertise and experience;

a request for proposal/request for information, the request for proposal/request for information generator providing the user a template to draft requests for proposals/request for information and send the request for proposal/request for information to a selected distribution list; and

a proposal profile component, the proposal profile component providing the user with access to proposals sent in response to the request for proposal/request for information.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein keyword searches and search limitations are used to search a database of experts.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein information about a member of the organization is collected and stored in a profile in the expert database.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the step of drafting a request further comprises attaching supporting documents are attached to the request for proposal/request for information.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein all the individuals are employed by a first organization.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein some of the individuals are employed by a first organization and some by a second organization, the team of experts including individuals from the first organization and the second organization receiving from a buyer a search request based on one or more search criteria, the search request initiating a search of the central database for abstracts that meet the search criteria;

returning a list of abstract that match the search criteria to the buyer.