Method and apparatus for sending and tracking resume data sent via URL

• US 6,785,679 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infinite Computer Solutions Inc. (Infinite Computer Solutions Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brassring LLC (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Dane, Mark, Hennessy, Michael, Crossman, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo, Thuy N.
• Application Number:
  US09/537,536
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/104, 707/6, 707/9, 707/10, 707/205, 705/23, 701/201, 709/229
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A resume database system allows for resume records on the resume database system to be viewed by others via a Uniform Resource Locator, URL. In addition, in response to instructions from an authorized user of the resume database system, input from an unauthorized, but otherwise verified, source can be added to the database by the resume database system. The verified user accesses the resume database and completes any necessary forms via a web browser and submits the information. The authorized user defines the actions that the verified user is allowed to take. These actions include, for example, only being able to review resume information, or being able to add information to the resume database without needing training on the operation of the database. A resume database server system coordinates the activity of the authorized and verified users. Communications between all three users is accomplished via a computer network.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing resume information stored in a resume database to a recipient, the method comprising:

(a) identifying, at a first client system, the resume information in the resume database;

(b) directing a system management function to send to the recipient a Uniform Resource Locator, URL, pointing to the identified resume information; and

(c) receiving by the recipient, at a second client system, a message comprising the URL pointing to the identified resume information;

and wherein the URL comprises an indicator for the system management function to accept input from the recipient;

and wherein the database management function stores the accepted input in association with the identified resume information in the resume database;

and wherein the system management function sends a copy of the accepted input to an entity that directed the system management function to send the URL to the recipient.

2. A method of providing access to a resume database, the method comprising:

under control of a first client system;

sending an access instruction message;

under control of a server system;

receiving the access instruction message from the first client system;

identifying a resume record within the access instruction message

identifying a destination address within the access instruction message;

creating a Uniform Resource Locator, URL, pointing to the resume record in the resume database;

transmitting the URL to the destination address; and

under control of a second client system;

receiving the URL at the destination address; and

wherein the destination address is located at a second client system;

the method further comprising,

under control of the second client system;

receiving the URL from the server system, and

accessing the server system via the URL; and

under control of the server system;

detecting an access to the server system by the second client system via the URL,

determining whether or not the URL is authorized, and

after the URL is determined to be authorized,

identifying a resume record from the URL,

retrieving the resume record from the resume database, and

causing the resume record to be displayed on the second client system;

and wherein the step of determining whether or not the URL is authorized comprises;

under control of the server system;

identifying the resume record and a URL identifier in the URL; and

comparing a first set comprising the identified resume record and the URL identifier to stored authorized sets; and

when the first set matches one of the stored authorized sets, determining that the URL is authorized.

3. A method of providing access to a resume database, the method comprising:

under control of a first client system;

sending an access instruction message;

under control of a server system;

receiving the access instruction message from the first client system;

identifying a resume record within the access instruction message

identifying a destination address within the access instruction message;

creating a Uniform Resource Locator, URL, pointing to the resume record in the resume database;

transmitting the URL to the destination address; and

under control of a second client system;

receiving the URL at the destination address; and

wherein the destination address is located at a second client system;

the method further comprising;

under control of the second client system;

receiving the URL from the server system; and

accessing the server system via the URL; and

under control of the server system;

detecting an access to the server system by the second client system via the URL;

determining whether or not the URL is authorized; and

after the URL is determined to be authorized;

identifying a resume record from the URL,

retrieving the resume record from the resume database, and

causing the resume record to be displayed on the second client system;

identifying a form to be completed as a function of information in the database associated with the resume record; and

causing the identified form to be displayed on the second client system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the form is an HTML form.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

under control of the second client system;

inserting information into the form received from the server system; and

causing the inserted information to be sent to the server system.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

under control of the server system;

receiving the inserted information from the second client system;

inserting the received information in the resume database; and

associating the inserted information with the identified resume record.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

under control of the server system;

sending a copy of the inserted information to the first client system.

8. A computer-implemented method of providing resume information stored in a resume record in a resume database, the method comprising:

receiving an instruction from a first client that identifies the resume record;

creating a Uniform Resource Locator, URL, pointing to the identified resume record in the resume database, wherein the URL is constructed to allow access to the resume record from a second client; and

sending the URL to a destination address;

receiving an access request to access the resume database via a received URL;

determining whether the received URL is authorized; and

after the received URL is determined to be authorized, identifying a resume record from data in the received URL and providing the identified resume record to a source of the received URL; and

wherein the authorization determining step comprises;

identifying the resume record and a URL identifier in the URL; and

comparing a first set comprising the identified resume record and the URL identifier to stored authorized sets; and

when the first set matches one of the stored authorized sets, determining that the URL is authorized.

9. A method of providing access to a resume database, the method comprising:

under control of a server system;

retrieving a stored search including at least one search parameter;

executing the stored search against resume information stored in the resume database;

identifying at least one resume record within the resume database as a result of executing the stored search;

identifying a first destination address within the stored search;

creating a Uniform Resource Locator, URL, pointing to the identified at least one resume record in the resume database; and

transmitting the URL to the first destination address;

and wherein the stored search comprises at least one of;

(a) an indication of a form to be completed by a user associated with the first destination address;

(b) a time duration representing a time period during which the URL is valid; and

(c) a request for a confirmation message to be sent to a second destination address after the URL is transmitted to the first destination address.

10. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium;

computer program instructions on the computer-readable medium, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by a computer, direct the computer to perform a method of providing access to a resume database, the method comprising;

retrieving a stored search including at least one search parameter;

executing the stored search against resume information stored in the resume database;

identifying at least one resume record within the resume database as a result of executing the stored search;

identifying a first destination address within the stored search;

creating a Uniform Resource Locator, URL, pointing to the identified at least one resume record in the resume database; and

transmitting the URL to the first destination address;

and wherein the stored search comprises at least one of;

(a) an indication of a form to be completed by a user associated with the first destination address;

(b) a time duration representing a time period during which the URL is valid; and

(c) a request for a confirmation message to be sent to a second destination address after the URL is transmitted to the first destination address.

11. A system for sharing resume data stored in a resume database, the system comprising:

a database server system operative to;

retrieve a stored search including at least one search parameter;

execute the stored search against resume information stored in the resume database;

identify at least one resume record within the resume database as a result of executing the stored search;

identify a first destination address within the stored search;

create a Uniform Resource Locator, URL, pointing to the identified at least one resume record in the resume database; and

transmit the URL to the first destination address,

wherein the stored search comprises at least one of;

(a) an indication of a form to be completed by a user associated with the first destination address;

(b) a time duration representing a time period during which the URL is valid; and

(c) a request for a confirmation message to be sent to a second destination address after the URL is transmitted to the first destination address.