Establishing dynamic communication group by searching implicit information that is obtained through inference

• US 7,395,316 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Sambrooke, William M., Ostertag, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, WEN TAI
• Application Number:
  US10/620,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20050015362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709206-207, 709223-224, 709/228, 705/1, 705/11, 705/14, 705/35, 455/435.1, 706/45, 707/7
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements

Abstract

Mining human capital information includes defining one or more attributes of a communication group, extracting a target group by searching one or more of explicit and implicit data sources according to the defined attributes, communicating with the extracted target group, logging at least some of the communications, and analyzing the logged communications.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of mining human capital information for creating a target group, the method comprising:

receiving user input specifying criteria of association with a dynamic target group to be created, by defining one or more attributes of a communication group;

searching, in response to the input, implicit information that is obtained through inference, but that is not directly extracted from prespecified fields, explicitly defined attributes or tagged elements of an information content, and that does not directly state interest, expertise or responsibility of an individual regarding a subject, to determine if information therein matches the defined one or more attributes;

if a match is determined, using the information to identify individuals to be associated with the dynamic target group;

communicating with the identified individuals using a communication directed to the dynamic target group, wherein the communicating includes sending to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group an information request based on at least one of a survey and a questionnaire, and wherein communicating includes sending to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group at least one of structured communication wherein possible responses to queries are predefined and unstructured communication wherein possible responses to queries are not predefined;

logging at least some of the communications; and

analyzing the logged communications.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising saving the defined attributes.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a report based on a result of analyzing the logged communications.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising accessing an enterprise resource planning system to identify individuals of the dynamic target group from master data of employees of an enterprise.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending information to a member of the dynamic target group triggered on an occurrence of a life or work event associated with a member.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein defining attributes includes defining attributes based on at least one of special knowledge area, work experience, academic experience, position, and work situation associated with the dynamic target group.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating occurs over at least one of a computer network, wireless, the Internet, an Intranet, electronic-mail and voice-mail.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating includes distributing information to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, and receiving feedback from the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an enterprise with an ability to make decisions based on a result of analyzing the one or more logged communications.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising searching at least one explicit data source having explicitly defined attribute information.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein searching the information includes searching data sources having implicitly defined attribute information.

12. An article comprising a machine-readable medium storing machine-readable instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receive user input specifying criteria of association with a dynamic target group to be created, by defining one or more attributes of a communication group;

search, in response to the input, implicit information that is obtained through inference, but that is not directly extracted from prespecified fields, explicitly defined attributes or tagged elements of an information content, and that does not directly state interest, expertise or responsibility of an individual regarding a subject, to determine if information therein matches the defined one or more attributes;

if a match is determined, use the information to identify individuals to be associated with the dynamic target group;

communicate with the identified individuals using a communication directed to the dynamic target group, wherein the communicate includes send to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group an information request based on at least one of a survey and a questionnaire, and wherein communicate includes use at least one of structured communication wherein possible responses to queries are predefined and

unstructured communication wherein possible responses to queries are not predefined;

log at least some of the communications; and

analyze the logged communications.

13. The article of claim 12 further comprising instructions to save the defined attributes.

14. The article of claim 12 further comprising instructions to generate a report based on a result of analyzing the logged communications.

15. The article of claim 12 further comprising instructions to access an enterprise resource planning system to identify individuals of the dynamic target group from master data of employees of an enterprise.

16. The article of claim 12 further comprising instructions to send information to a member of the dynamic target group triggered on an occurrence of a life or work event associated with a member.

17. The article of claim 12 wherein instructions to define attributes include instructions to define attributes based on at least one of special knowledge area, work experience, academic experience, position, and work situation associated with the dynamic target group.

18. The article of claim 12 wherein instructions to communicate include instructions to distribute information to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, and receiving feedback from the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

19. The article of claim 12 further comprising instructions to provide an enterprise with an ability to make decisions based on a result of analyzing the one or more logged communications.

20. The article of claim 12 further comprising instructions to search an explicit data source, wherein instructions to search the explicit data sources include instructions to search explicit data sources having explicitly defined attribute information.

21. The article of claim 12 wherein instructions to search the information include instructions to search implicit data sources having implicitly defined attribute information.

22. A system for mining human capital information for creating a target group, the system comprising one or more computers configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving user input specifying criteria of association with a dynamic target group to be created, by defining one or more attributes of a communication group;

searching, in response to the input, implicit information that is obtained through inference, but that is not directly extracted from prespecified fields, explicitly defined attributes or tagged elements of an information content, and that does not directly state interest, expertise or responsibility of an individual regarding a subject, to determine if information therein matches the defined one or more attributes;

if a match is determined, using the information to identify individuals to be associated with the dynamic target group;

communicating with the identified individuals using a communication directed to the dynamic target group, wherein the communicating includes sending to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group an information request based on at least one of a survey and a questionnaire, and wherein communicating includes sending to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group at least one of structured communication wherein possible responses to queries are predefined and unstructured communication wherein possible responses to queries are not predefined;

logging at least some of the communications; and

analyzing the logged communications.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising saving the defined attributes.

24. The system of claim 22 further comprising generating a report based on a result of analyzing the logged communications.

25. The system of claim 22 further comprising accessing an enterprise resource planning system to identify individuals of the dynamic target group from master data of employees of an enterprise.

26. The system of claim 22 further comprising sending information to a member of the dynamic target group triggered on an occurrence of a life or work event associated with a member.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein defining attributes includes defining attributes based on at least one of special knowledge area, work experience, academic experience, position, and work situation associated with the dynamic target group.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein communicating includes distributing information to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, and receiving feedback from the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

29. The system of claim 22 further comprising providing an enterprise with an ability to make decisions based on a result of analyzing the one or more logged communications.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein identifying the individuals further comprises searching at least one explicit data source and wherein searching the explicit data source includes searching data sources having explicitly defined attribute information.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein searching the information includes searching data sources having implicitly defined attribute information.

32. A computer-implemented method of establishing a target group, the method comprising:

receiving user input specifying criteria of association with a dynamic target group to be created, by defining information associated with one or more attributes for the dynamic target group;

saving the defined attribute information;

searching implicit information that is obtained through inference, but that is not directly extracted from prespecified fields, explicitly defined attributes or tagged elements of an information content, and that does not directly state interest, expertise or responsibility of an individual regarding a subject, for people having the defined attributes to identify individuals to be associated with the dynamic target group; and

communicating with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, wherein the communicating includes sending to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group an information request based on at least one of a survey and a questionnaire, and wherein communicating includes sending to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group at least one of structured communication wherein possible responses to queries are predefined and unstructured communication wherein possible responses to queries are not predefined.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising generating a distribution list of the dynamic target group at a time information is exchanged with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising updating a distribution list of the dynamic target group at a time information is exchanged with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprising accessing an enterprise resource planning system to define information associated with one or more attributes for the dynamic target group from master data of employees of an enterprise.

36. The method of claim 32 further comprising sending information to a member of the dynamic target group triggered on an occurrence of a life or work event associated with a member.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein defining information includes defining attributes based on at least one of special knowledge area, work experience, academic experience, position, and work situation associated with the dynamic target group.

38. The method of claim 32 further comprising communicating with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, wherein communicating includes distributing information to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, and receiving feedback from the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

39. The method of claim 32 wherein identifying the individuals further comprises searching at least one explicit data source and wherein searching the explicit data source includes searching data sources having explicitly defined attribute information.

40. The method of claim 32 wherein searching the information includes searching data sources having implicitly defined attribute information.

41. An article comprising a machine-readable medium storing machine-readable instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receive user input specifying criteria of association with a dynamic target group to be created, by defining information associated with one or more attributes for the dynamic target group;

save the defined attribute information;

search implicit information that is obtained through inference, but that is not directly extracted from prespecified fields, explicitly defined attributes or tagged elements of an information content, and that does not directly state interest, expertise or responsibility of an individual regarding a subject, for people having the defined attributes to identify individuals to be associated with the dynamic target; and

communicate with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, wherein the communicate includes send to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group an information request based on at least one of a survey and a questionnaire, and wherein communicate includes send to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group at least one of structured communication wherein possible responses to queries are predefined and unstructured communication wherein possible responses to queries are not predefined.

42. The article of claim 41 further comprising instructions to generate a distribution list of the dynamic target group at the time information is exchanged with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

43. The article of claim 41 further comprising instructions to update a distribution list of the dynamic target group at a time information is exchanged with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

44. The article of claim 41 further comprising instructions to access an enterprise resource planning system to define information associated with one or more attributes for the dynamic target group from master data of employees of an enterprise.

45. The article of claim 41 further comprising instructions to send information to a member of the dynamic target group triggered on an occurrence of a life or work event associated with a member.

46. The article of claim 41 wherein instructions to define information includes instruction to define attributes based on at least one of special knowledge area, work experience, academic experience, position, and work situation associated with the dynamic target group.

47. The article of claim 41 further comprising instructions to communicate with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, wherein the instructions to communicate include instructions to distribute information to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, and receive feedback from the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

48. The article of claim 41 further comprising instructions for searching at least one explicit data source and wherein instructions to search the explicit data source include instructions to search data sources having explicitly defined attribute information.

49. The article of claim 41 wherein instructions to search the information-include instructions to search data sources having implicitly defined attribute information.

50. A system for establishing a target group, the system comprising one or more computers configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving user input specifying criteria of association with a dynamic target group to be created, by defining information associated with one or more attributes for the dynamic target group;

saving the defined attribute information;

searching implicit information that is obtained through inference, but that is not directly extracted from prespecified fields, explicitly defined attributes or tagged elements of an information content, and that does not directly state interest, expertise or responsibility of an individual regarding a subject, for people having the defined attributes to identify individuals to be associated with the dynamic target group; and

communicating with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, wherein the communicating includes sending to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group an information request based on at least one of a survey and a questionnaire, and wherein communicating includes sending to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group at least one of structured communication wherein possible responses to queries are predefined and unstructured communication wherein possible responses to queries are not predefined.

51. The system of claim 50 further comprising generating a distribution list of the dynamic target group at the time information is exchanged with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

52. The system of claim 50 further comprising updating a distribution list of the dynamic target group at a time information is exchanged with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

53. The system of claim 50 further comprising accessing an enterprise resource planning system to define information associated with one or more attributes for the dynamic target group from master data of employees of an enterprise.

54. The system of claim 50 further comprising sending information to a member of the dynamic target group triggered on an occurrence of a life or work event associated with a member.

55. The system of claim 50 wherein defining information includes defining attributes based on at least one of special knowledge area, work experience, academic experience, position, and work situation associated with the dynamic target group.

56. The system of claim 50 further comprising communicating with the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, wherein communicating includes distributing information to the identified individuals of the dynamic target group, and receiving feedback from the identified individuals of the dynamic target group.

57. The system of claim 50 wherein identifying the individuals further comprises searching at least one explicit data source and wherein searching the explicit data source includes searching data sources having explicitly defined attribute information.

58. The system of claim 50 wherein searching the information includes searching data sources having implicitly defined attribute information.