METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING CANDIDATE USERS

• US 20130110833A1
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Concur Technologies Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Concur Technologies Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: FREDERICKS, MICHAEL, WHITE, WILLIAM BRIAN, LORE, MICHAEL, ALTMAN, JONATHAN, MOFFATT, KEITH
• Application Number:
  US13/712,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110833A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system of determining the approximate location of a person for an effective time, comprising: performing processing associated with receiving any travel information; performing processing associated with receiving any geolocation information; performing processing associated with receiving any expense information; performing processing associated with receiving any home or office location information; performing processing associated with receiving any current schedule/delay information for scheduled travel services; performing processing associated with determining a locations of the person using the travel information; performing processing associated with determining the location of the person using geolocation information, home/office information, expense information, or current schedule/delay information, or any combination thereof; performing processing associated with receiving information related to the location of the person using the travel information; and performing processing associated with sending a message to a device utilized by the person.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of determining any probable locations of a person for an effective time, comprising:

performing processing associated with receiving any travel information relating to the person from a plurality of sources;

performing processing associated with receiving any geolocation information relating to the person;

performing processing associated with receiving any expense information related to the person;

performing processing associated with receiving any home or office location information related to the person from a plurality of sources;

performing processing associated with receiving any current schedule/delay information for scheduled travel services;

performing processing associated with determining any possible locations of the person using the travel information;

performing processing associated with determining any probable locations of the person using;

the any possible locations, geolocation information, home/office information, expense information, or current schedule/delay information, or any combination thereof;

and performing processing associated with returning information about possible and probable locations of the person with guidance about the likelihood of each location based on the determination of probability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sources comprises:

a global distribution system;

or

electronic mail;

or

data received directly from a travel supplier;

or

information provided as input by the person;

or

information received from external source systems, wherein the external source systems comprise employer human resources data file transmissions;

or

any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective time comprises:

a time in the past, a time in the future, or a time in the present, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining any possible locations for the person comprises:

performing processing associated with analyzing any itinerary information for the person to determine the location of that person at the effective time;

or

performing processing associated with analyzing expense information for the person to determine the location of that person at the effective time;

or

any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein any current schedule/delay information received is used to update the possible location information for that person to reflect current schedules and delays.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining any probable locations for the person comprises:

performing processing associated with identifying when the person is scheduled to be in multiple locations at the effective time, utilizing the itinerary information; and

performing processing associated with utilizing attributes of each itinerary to determine any probable locations.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the attributes comprise:

a source of the itinerary;

a time the itinerary information was received;

similarity to past travel of the person;

similarity to past travel of other persons who have similar travel patterns to the person;

or the feasibility of the itinerary being accurate;

or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the geolocation information may be obtained when the person checks in and indicates his or her location and/or how long the person expects to stay at that location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the person is determined and/or guessed given multiple location options.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple sources are utilized to find the location of the person.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the person is treated as being in two places at one time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a user is able to access reporting information showing who is in what location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user is able to query an application for information about possible and/or probably locations of the person.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the person is determined and/or guessed regardless of whether the person is traveling.

15. A computer-implemented system of determining any probable locations of a person for an effective time, comprising:

a processor configured for;

performing processing associated with receiving any travel information relating to the person from a plurality of sources;

performing processing associated with receiving any geolocation information relating to the person;

performing processing associated with receiving any expense information related to the person;

performing processing associated with receiving any home or office location information related to the person from a plurality of sources;

performing processing associated with receiving any current schedule/delay information for scheduled travel services;

performing processing associated with determining any possible locations of the person using the travel information;

performing processing associated with determining any probable locations of the person using;

the any possible locations, geolocation information, home/office information, expense information, or current schedule/delay information, or any combination thereof;

and performing processing associated with returning information about possible and probable locations of the person with guidance about the likelihood of each location based on the determination of probability.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of sources comprises:

a global distribution system;

or

electronic mail;

or

data received directly from a travel supplier;

or

information provided as input by the person;

or

information received from external source systems, wherein the external source systems comprise employer human resources data file transmissions;

or

any combination thereof.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the effective time comprises:

a time in the past, a time in the future, or a time in the present, or any combination thereof.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein determining any possible locations for the person comprises:

performing processing associated with analyzing any itinerary information for the person to determine the location of that person at the effective time;

or

performing processing associated with analyzing expense information for the person to determine the location of that person at the effective time;

or

any combination thereof.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein any current schedule/delay information received is used to update the possible location information for that person to reflect current schedules and delays.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein determining any probable locations for the person comprises:

performing processing associated with identifying when the person is scheduled to be in multiple locations at the effective time, utilizing the itinerary information; and

performing processing associated with utilizing attributes of each itinerary to determine any probable locations.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the attributes comprise:

a source of the itinerary;

a time the itinerary information was received;

similarity to past travel of the person;

similarity to past travel of other persons who have similar travel patterns to the person;

or the feasibility of the itinerary being accurate;

or any combination thereof.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the geolocation information may be obtained when the person checks in and indicates his or her location and/or how long the person expects to stay at that location.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the location of the person is determined and/or guessed given multiple location options.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein multiple sources are utilized to find the location of the person.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the person is treated as being in two places at one time.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein a user is able to access reporting information showing who is in what location.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the user is able to query an application for information about possible and/or probably locations of the person.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the location of the person is determined and/or guessed regardless of whether the person is traveling.