AUTOMATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING A PROCESS FOR THE SHOPPING AND SELECTION OF HUMAN ENTITIES

• US 20110131120A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intragroup Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intragroup Inc.
• Inventors: Sciuk, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted

Abstract

This invention is a system and method for automatically managing a multi-step process in which human providers are selected for some purpose. Typical applications include the selection process associated with employment and dating services. The invention is directed to linking and coordinating the various steps of the selection process through automated sequencing, coordinating, tracking and status reporting processes. The interviewee answers questions that are printed, displayed, or spoken by an automated mechanism or questions are printed or displayed for use by a tester or interviewer. Answers can be written, spoken, or entered directly into a system by the interviewee. The invention provides a system and method for automatically scoring and ranking human providers with respect to selection criteria, making use of expert system concepts. Human shoppers are matched up and the usefulness of each match is scored on the basis of stated selection criteria of each human shopper.

Claims

1. An iterative score generation system configured to score associations of orders and providers utilizing a computing device, comprising:

a) a processor;

b) a data storage device;

c) a knowledge base module in communication with the data storage device and including order information and provider information;

d) a virtual provider module in communication with the knowledge base, wherein the virtual provider pairs order information and provider information, thereby creating paired order-provider information;

e) a scoring module in communication with the processor and the knowledge base module, wherein the scoring module scores paired order-provider information thereby generating a score associated with paired order-provider information, the scoring module including;

i. an inspection module configured to inspect paired order-provider information, wherein the inspection module determines if further information is required;

ii. a request module in communication with the inspection module, wherein the request module signals a request for more information be made to outside the system wherein the inspection module has determined that further information is required; and

iii. an update module in communication with the knowledge base, wherein the update module revises a score of paired order-provider information based on additional information received in response to a request signaled by the request module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the scoring module generates a score according to a scoring formula, and the scoring module includes a user criteria module in communication with the knowledge base module, wherein the user criteria module solicits user criteria and alters the scoring formula according to user criteria.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the scoring module generates a score according to a scoring formula and wherein the scoring formula includes a factor associated with keyword clustering.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the factor associated with keyword clustering includes keyword clustering observed by the system in the knowledge base.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the scoring system stores initial scores and revised scores in association with paired order-provider information such that the initial scores and revised scores are independently accessible.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a management module in communication with the virtual provider module, wherein the management module tracks action by the virtual provider module, and a sequencing module including sequence information and in communication with the virtual provider module, wherein the virtual provider module accesses the sequencing module for sequencing information used in actions taken by the virtual provider module.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising a timer module in communication with the request module, wherein the timer module associated a predetermined amount of time with a request for more information.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an alarm module in communication with the timer module, wherein the alarm module sends an alarm signal when the predetermined time has elapsed without receipt of the requested information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the alarm module sends the alarm signal outside the system.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the sequencing system is in communication with the request module and provides instructions to entities exterior the system, the instructions being associated with the request for more information.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the request module sends a request signal that includes instructions to the sequencing system regarding preferred instructions.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a rescoring module in communication with the knowledge base module and automatically corrects scores based on scoring factors.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the correction factors are derived from results from testing provider information.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising an information request module in communication with the request module, wherein the information request module generates a display image on a display in response to a signaled request from the request module, wherein the display image is associated with the signaled request.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an audio input device in communication with a speech recognition module in communication with the knowledge base module.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an information request module in communication with the request module, wherein the information request module generates a display image on a display device in response to a signaled request from the request module, wherein the display image is associated with the signaled request.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising an audio input device in communication with a speech recognition module in communication with the knowledge base module.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reporting module in communication with the knowledge base module, wherein the knowledge base module sends status messages regarding the status of a particular order in the system and sends status messages regarding the status of paired order-provider information.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a billing module in communication with the knowledge base module and generates invoices based on system operation.

20. An iterative score generation system configured to score associations of orders and providers utilizing a computing device, comprising:

a) a processor;

b) a data storage device;

c) a knowledge base module in communication with the data storage device and including order information and provider information;

d) a virtual provider module in communication with the knowledge base, wherein the virtual provider pairs order information and provider information, thereby creating paired order-provider information;

e) a management module in communication with the virtual provider module, wherein the management module tracks action by the virtual provider module;

f) a sequencing module including sequence information and in communication with the virtual provider module, wherein the virtual provider module accesses the sequencing module for sequencing information used in actions taken by the virtual provider module;

g) an alarm module in communication with the timer module, wherein the alarm module sends an alarm signal when the predetermined time has elapsed without receipt of the requested information;

h) an information request module in communication with the request module, wherein the information request module generates a display image on a display in response to a signaled request from the request module, wherein the display image is associated with the signaled request; and

i) a scoring module in communication with the processor and the knowledge base module, wherein the scoring module scores paired order-provider information thereby generating a score associated with paired order-provider information, the scoring module including;

i. an inspection module configured to inspect paired order-provider information, wherein the inspection module determines if further information is required;

ii. a request module in communication with the inspection module, wherein the request module signals a request for more information be made to outside the system wherein the inspection module has determined that further information is required; and

iii. an update module in communication with the knowledge base, wherein the update module revises a score of paired order-provider information based on additional information received in response to a request signaled by the request module.