COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF DETERMINING MATCHES BETWEEN SEARCHERS AND PROVIDERS

• US 20110145039A1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matthew John Symons
• Original Assignee: Quotify Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McCarney, Paul, Jessup, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,566,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/18 Comparators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

The inventive subject matter is generally directed to matching a party with another party based on profiling of the parties, and optionally an industry category, for parameters that are relevant to making a match. In certain embodiments, the inventive subject matter facilitates matches between searchers and service providers based on assignment of searchers and service providers to predefined Buyer Types or Service Provider Types based on questionnaires, surveys, and other input and feedback mechanisms. In a further aspect, the inventive subject matter is directed to a system for valuing and monetizing a set of leads to offer to a party. In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter is directed to mobile applications for matching searchers with providers based on awareness of the locations of the parties.

Claims

1. A tangible, computer-readable medium containing executable instructions for determining matches between searchers and providers, comprising:

assigning a searcher and/or provider to a respective buyer type and/or service provider type that is based on responses to a set of questions adapted to characterize the searcher and/or provider as one of a plurality of a predetermined buyer types and/or service provider types;

from the buyer type and/or service provider type, determining a set of default weighted attributes that are assumed or assigned to be important to a searcher or provider of a given type, and using the weighted attributes to create a profile for the searcher and/or provider;

matching a buyer profile to one or more providers having profiles with one or more attributes in common with the attributes in the searcher profile, the matching being allowed to occur over a range of distances from a buyer profile;

updating attribute weightings or rankings for a buyer profile and/or service provider profile based on (i) feedback from the searcher, service provider, third parties following interactions between searchers, and service providers, (ii) predetermined intervals, and/or (iii) other relevant information relevant to weightings or rankings.

3. The medium of claim 1 wherein the searcher is a consumer and the provider is a service provider.

5. The medium of claim 3 wherein questions are presented to a searcher to create an initial buyer profile that is matched with service provider profiles.

7. The medium of claim 3 further comprising presenting to the consumer or service provider a set of matches ranked according to the degree buyer profile(s) matches with a service provider profile(s).

8. The medium of claim 1 further comprising assigning a monetary value to matches and offering the matches to a service provider or searcher according to the value.

9. The medium of claim 8 wherein the monetary value is determined according to degree of match or past performance history of the searcher at selecting a service provider matched in a search.

11. The medium of claim 7 wherein the consumer and/or service provider can select the number of ranked matches to be presented.

12. The medium of claim 1 further comprising a graphical user interface, the interface being provided on an online directory of businesses that are potential providers, the directory accessed by a searcher/searcher through a browser.

13. The medium of claim 1 wherein in subsequent searches the assignment of a searcher to a buyer type is used to make recommendations for the searcher as to service providers across service category channels.

43. The method of claim 8 wherein the monetary value is determined by assigning a base value corresponding to attributes of the service provider profile and a supplemental value corresponding to attributes of the job.

45. The medium of claim 3 wherein the searcher is a consumer and the provider is a service provider.

2. A tangible, computer-readable medium containing executable instructions for matching a searcher with a provider, comprising the following steps:

identifying subject matter representing a particular need of a searcher and matching the subject matter to a set of one or more potential providers who meet predetermined criteria indicating that they are capable and available to provide a solution for the need;

presenting a searcher and/or provider with a set of questions to determine attributes of importance to the searcher or provider, the questions representing a plurality of attributes that correspond to a plurality of predetermined buyer and/or service provider types, each question being answerable by the searcher and/or provider selecting from a range of predetermined list of choices;

assigning the searcher and/or provider to one of the predetermined buyer and/or service provider types according to the answers to the questions, and creating an initial buyer and/or service provider profile based on a default set of weighted or ranked attributes for a buyer or service provider type;

from the set of potential providers matched to the subject matter, matching the initial profile of the searcher and/or provider with one or more searchers; and

ranking the matches according to the degree the attributes in a searcher-profile/provider-profile pair match.

4. The medium of claim 2 wherein the searcher is a business and the provider is a business.

6. The medium of claim 2 wherein there is using both (1) initial service provider profiles assigned to a service provider type based on less than a full set of attributes for a provider profile, and (2) service provider profiles that are updated from such initial profiles after searchers provide input on a service provider relating to a missing attribute for a service provider type.

10. The medium of claim 2 wherein capability attributes are used that are based on:

job location;

product/service required (sub categories);

or size and type of job required; and

the availability attributes are used that are based on;

service provider capacity, responsiveness history for a service provider;

or availability specifications of a service provider.

14. The medium of claim 2 wherein the searcher is a consumer and the provider is a service provider and a mobile application is used to determine a service provider'"'"'s availability and/or capacity to take additional work within a given time period.

15. The medium of claim 2 wherein the searcher is a consumer and the provider is a service provider and the system identifies a pool of searchers that could be the basis of group or other special discounts or offerings.

16. A computer-implemented method of matching in an intermediary matching system, comprising:

tracking or updating the system with the location of one or more service providers on a computer

outputting from the computer a notification to one or more searchers having stored Buyer Profiles of the one or more service providers in a predetermined proximity of the service providers based on attributes in a Buyer'"'"'s Profile;

associating the notification with an offer from a service provider or an invitation to meet with the service provider on the computer; and

processing a response from the searcher to the notification on the computer, the response being used to update the one or more service providers as to one or more matching searchers.

17. A computer implemented method comprising:

storing on an intermediary computer system for matching (1) a set of profiles of searchers;

(2) a set of profiles of service providers; and

(3) a set of profiles of industry categories;

matching one or more searchers to one or more of the industry categories on the intermediary computer system;

based on a match, from the intermediary computer system, outputting to (1) a searcher a list of one or more services providers in the matching category;

(2) a service provider in the matching category a lead or offer for a lead to a matching searcher; and

/or (3) a searcher with an offer for information or services for the matching category.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein a searcher profile is created, and the searcher and provider are matched, using a set of steps comprising:

assigning a searcher and/or provider to a respective buyer type and/or service provider type that is based on responses to a set of questions adapted to characterize the searcher and/or provider as one of a plurality of a predetermined buyer types and/or service provider types;

from the buyer type and/or service provider type, determining a set of default weighted attributes that are assumed or assigned to be important to a searcher or provider of a given type, and using the weighted attributes to create a profile for the searcher and/or provider; and

matching a buyer profile to one or more providers having profiles with one or more attributes in common with the attributes in the searcher profile, the matching being allowed to occur over a range of distances from a buyer profile.

18. A computer implemented method comprising:

storing on an intermediary computer system for matching (1) a set of buyer profiles of searchers;

(2) a set of service provider profiles for service providers; and

, optionally, (3) a set of industry capacity profiles of industry categories;

receiving on the intermediary computer system data representing a user'"'"'s interaction with a survey that is presented to a searcher/user of an electronic page on a remote computer system based on the user'"'"'s interaction with a specific item of content on the electronic page, the data including an identifier or indicator for the context of the content;

creating or updating a searcher'"'"'s buyer profile with attributes related to the content on the intermediary computer system;

matching on the intermediary computer system the searcher to one or more service providers and/or the industry categories corresponding to the context of the content;

based on a match, from the intermediary computer system, outputting to (1) a searcher a list of one or more matching services providers;

(2) a matching service provider a lead or offer for a lead to a matching searcher; and

/or (3) a searcher with an offer for information or services for a matching industry category.

20. A computer-implemented method of determining matches between searchers and providers, comprising:

providing a buyer profile comprising a buyer type for a searcher on a computer;

providing a plurality of service provider profiles on the computer;

matching using the computer, one or more service providers based on the buyer type; and

outputting the matching service providers from the computer.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the provided buyer type is based on the searcher'"'"'s responses to a set of questions adapted to characterize the searcher as one of a plurality of a predetermined buyer types on the computer.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the service provider profile comprises a number of days since the provider was last matched to a searcher and matching service providers is further based on a number of days since the provider was last matched to a searcher.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the matching service providers is further based on feedback following interactions between searchers and service providers.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the service provider profile comprises a service provider type.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the matching is based on matching the buyer type to the service provider type.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein the service provider profile comprises a plurality of weighted attribute values and further comprising

wherein the matching comprises mapping each buyer type to a plurality of weighted attribute values and one or more weighted attributes have a numerical value within a specified range for the searcher and the provider.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the feedback is filtered to feedback submitted by feedback parties with the same buyer type as the searcher.

34. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

using a mobile application to determine a service provider'"'"'s availability and/or capacity to take additional work within a given time period; and

matching is based on the service provider'"'"'s availability and/or capacity to take additional work within a given time period.

35. The method of claim 20 wherein the outputting comprises notifying one or more mobile providers of searcher leads in a predetermined proximity of the mobile providers current position or planned position.

36. The method of claim 20 wherein the outputting comprises notifying one or more searchers of one or more mobile providers in a predetermined proximity based on the mobile providers current position or planned position.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the notifications further comprise one or more terms for receiving the lead and further comprising receiving an acceptance of the terms and outputting to the provider contact information for the searcher.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the terms comprise a fee.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the fee monotonically increases for a service provider agrees to pay the fee.

42. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

asking the searcher additional questions;

refining the weighted attributes to differ from the weighted attributes obtained from mapping the buyer type based on the additional questions.

44. The method of claim 20 wherein the buyer profile further comprises a vertical and matching comprises:

applying a plurality of matching rules enabled for the vertical, wherein the matching rules include or exclude providers based on the buyer profile;

ranking providers based on a plurality of ranking rules enabled for the vertical wherein the ranking rules supply a weighted fitness value.

28. A tangible, computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for determining matches between searchers and providers, comprising:

computing a plurality of weighted attributes based on subjective factors relevant to an area of need; and

matching one or more providers based on the sum of the weighted attributes.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the area of need comprises a vertical and each weighted attribute is calculated by a ranking rule for the vertical.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the service provider profile comprises a service provider type and further comprising:

mapping each buyer type to weighted attribute values and

wherein the matching comprises matching one or more weighted attributes with a numerical value within a specified range.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 wherein providing a provider profile comprises:

assigning a plurality of initial numerical attribute values from an industry attribute template for that provider;

calculating numerical values for one or more additional attributes based on input provided by a service provider; and

wherein the additional attributes were not provided initial numerical attribute values from the industry attribute template.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 wherein the attributes comprise:

one or more capability attributes selected from the group comprising product/service sub categories required and size and type of job required; and

one or more availability attributes selected from the group comprising service provider capacity, responsiveness history for a service provider, and availability specifications of a service provider.

33. A method of transforming data representing tangible property, comprising:

acquiring registration data about a searcher corresponding to an area of need related to tangible objects or property;

profiling a buyer type for the searcher based on the searcher'"'"'s responses to a set of questions adapted to characterize the searcher as one of a plurality of a predetermined buyer types; and

matching service providers based on the buyer type and the registration data; and

outputting the matching service providers.

40. A computer implemented method comprising:

storing on an computer system a set of one or more industry capacity profiles;

storing on an computer system a set of one or more searcher profiles;

matching one or more industry capacity profiles on the computer system with the searcher profile;

outputting a promotion for the one or more service providers to a searcher.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the industry capacity profile is relevant for a particular date range or season and the matching comprises matching the current date within the particular date range or season.