System and method for automating RFP process and matching RFP requests to relevant vendors
First Claim
1. An automated method implemented on an adaptive system, the method operable to provide an automated request for proposal process that adaptively matches a user'"'"'s request for proposal to other users'"'"' profiles according to an adaptive algorithm that evaluates the closeness of the request for proposal to the certain users'"'"' profiles, the method comprising:
- providing a first user account associated with a first user;
providing a plurality of other user accounts, each associated with one of a plurality of other users;
receiving a free-form request for proposal from the first user, the request for proposal including a free-form subject field and a free-form description field, wherein the free-form subject and description fields are not required to include certain words or categories;
developing, at least in part with input from respective ones of the plurality of other users, a plurality of other user profiles;
evaluating the closeness between the free-form request for proposal and at least some of the plurality of other user profiles; and
based on the closeness of the free-form request for proposal and the at least some of the plurality of other user profiles, making the free-form request for proposal available for review by certain of the plurality of other users.
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Abstract
Disclosed is an open online system that allows users to use an automated Request for Proposal (RFP) process powered by a modern communicational web-platform. The system adapts to user feedback, and provides the automated communicational platform to administrate the RFP process; letting users post so-called “Needs,” “NeedCatchers,” “NeedTrackers,” “Helps,” and “Pro-helps.” Needs are buying signals similar to RFPs, providing a request for a service, good, advice, or other information. NeedCatchers and NeedTrackers are implemented by users, and contain tables of words and data defined by a user, wherein the words and data relate to services, products, or information in which the user is interested in providing to other users. The NeedCatchers and NeedTrackers act as a way to receive posted Needs that are relevant to the words and data defined in the user'"'"'s NeedCatcher or NeedTracker. “Help” and “Pro-help” are ways of providing information to a user posting a Need.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An automated method implemented on an adaptive system, the method operable to provide an automated request for proposal process that adaptively matches a user'"'"'s request for proposal to other users'"'"' profiles according to an adaptive algorithm that evaluates the closeness of the request for proposal to the certain users'"'"' profiles, the method comprising:
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providing a first user account associated with a first user; providing a plurality of other user accounts, each associated with one of a plurality of other users; receiving a free-form request for proposal from the first user, the request for proposal including a free-form subject field and a free-form description field, wherein the free-form subject and description fields are not required to include certain words or categories; developing, at least in part with input from respective ones of the plurality of other users, a plurality of other user profiles; evaluating the closeness between the free-form request for proposal and at least some of the plurality of other user profiles; and based on the closeness of the free-form request for proposal and the at least some of the plurality of other user profiles, making the free-form request for proposal available for review by certain of the plurality of other users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An automated method implemented on an adaptive system, the method operable to provide an automated request for proposal process that adaptively matches a user'"'"'s request for proposal to other users'"'"' profiles according to an adaptive algorithm that evaluates the closeness of the request for proposal to the certain users'"'"' profiles, the method comprising:
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providing a first user account associated with a first user; providing a plurality of other user accounts, each associated with one of a plurality of other users; receiving a free-form request for proposal from the first user, the request for proposal including a free-form subject field and a free-form description field, wherein the free-form subject and description fields are not required to include certain words or categories; developing, at least in part with input from respective ones of the plurality of other users, a plurality of other user profiles; evaluating the closeness between the free-form request for proposal and at least some of the plurality of other user profiles; based on the closeness of the free-form request for proposal and the at least some of the plurality of other user profiles, making the free-form request for proposal available for review by certain of the plurality of other users; receiving a proposal from at least some of the plurality of other users to whom the free-form request for proposal was made available for review, the proposal comprising at least one of free-form text, attached documents or files, and metadata; and wherein the first user and the plurality of other users provide feedback to each other and to the adaptive system to enhance the adaptive system and adaptive algorithms.
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Specification