Skills database management system and method

• US 6,266,659 B1
• Filed: 08/07/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MEC Management, LLC (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota)
• Original Assignee: Uday P. Nadkarni
• Inventors: Nadkarni, Uday P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US09/130,819
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/3, 707/104, 705/11, 705/7, 705/8, 709/217, 709/218, 709/201
• US Class Current: 705/7.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A computer-based on-line skills/résumé management system, the system has: (a) a relational database having a plurality of fields wherein a portion of the fields are arranged in a hierarchical relationship; (b) database population mechanism for populating the database with information, the population mechanism interfacing with a first user and prompting the first user for information for at least a portion of the fields arranged in the hierarchical relationship; (c) query generation mechanism for interfacing with a second user and prompting the second user to select a combination of the fields in the hierarchical relationship to form at least a portion of a query for searching the database; (d) search mechanism operatively connected to database for applying the query to the relational database; and (e) output mechanism for providing the second user with results of the search.

Claims

1. A computer-based on-line skills/ré

sumé

management system, said system comprising;

a relational database having a plurality of fields wherein a portion of said fields are arranged in a hierarchical relationship;

database population means for populating said database with information, said population means interfacing with a first user and prompting said first user for information for at least a portion of said fields arranged in said hierarchical relationship;

query generation means for interfacing with a second user and prompting said second user to select a combination of said fields in said hierarchical relationship to form at least a portion of a query for searching said database;

search means operatively connected to database for applying said query to said relational database; and

output means for providing said second user with results of said search.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said database population means prompts said first user to respond to a choice of professions, prompts said first user with a choice of subcategories based upon said profession, and then prompts said first user to attribute a time duration for a particular choice of profession subcategories.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said query generation means prompts said second user to select a choice of professions, prompts said second user to select a choice of subcategories based upon said profession, and then prompts said second user to specify a time requirement for a particular selection of profession subcategories.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said search means uses a select command based on said fields to select a candidate according to said query.

5. A computer based central skill/ré

sumé

management system, said system comprising;

a central processing unit (CPU) containing a database server;

a database operatively connected to said CPU, said database having a plurality of fields, a portion of said fields being arranged in a hierarchy and/or network relationship;

a user interface operatively connected to said CPU, said user interface interfacing said system with a user over a telecommunicative link;

memory operatively connected to said CPU, said memory containing instructional means for configuring said system to perform the following;

populating said database with information by interfacing with a first user and prompting said first user for information for at least a portion of said fields arranged in said hierarchical relationship;

formulating a query by interfacing with a second user and prompting said second user to select a combination of said fields in said hierarchical relationship to form at least a portion of a query for searching said database;

searching said database using said query; and

outputing results of said search.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein in populating said database, the system prompts said first user to respond to a choice of professions, prompts said first user with a choice of subcategories based upon said profession, and then prompts said first user to attribute a time duration for a particular choice of profession subcategories.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein in formulating a query, said system selects a choice of professions, prompts said second user to select a choice of subcategories based upon said profession, and then prompts said second user to specify a time requirement for a particular selection of profession subcategories.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said search means uses a select command based on said fields to select a user according to said query.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said instructional means configure the system to display comparative displays of candidates.

10. A method of managing skills and ré

sumé

s using an on-line skill/ré

sumé

management system, said system comprising a central processing unit (CPU) containing a database server, a relational database operatively connected to said CPU, said relational database having a plurality of fields, a portion of said field being arranged in a hierarchy, and a user interface operatively connected to said CPU, said user interface interfacing said system with a user over a telecommunicative link, said method comprising the steps of;

configuring a search query by using said user interface to prompt a user to select a combination of said fields in said hierarchy relationship to form at least a portion of a search query ;

searching said database using said query;

displaying results graphically and/or in a tabular fashion in specialized ways; and

outputing results of said search.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

populating said database with information by using a user interface to prompt another user for information for at least a portion of said fields arranged in said hierarchy.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein populating said database comprises:

prompting said first user to respond to a choice of professions;

prompting said first user with a choice of subcategories based upon the respective parent categories within said profession; and

prompting said user to attribute a time duration for a particular choice of profession subcategories.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein formulating a query comprises:

prompting said user to select a choice of professions;

prompting said user to select a choice of subcategories based upon their parent categories within said profession; and

prompting said user to specify a time requirement for a particular selection of profession subcategories.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said relational database further includes a field of education and other fields.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said process further comprises:

modifying said query after outputing said results.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said process further comprises:

sorting said results according to said fields.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said process further comprises:

scheduling an interview with a candidate.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said process further comprises:

receiving an indication of availability via a telecommunicative link from a candidate.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein populating said database includes entering educational information and job preferences.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein populating said database includes agreeing to charges for said on-line ré

sumé

service.