System and method for modeling and applying a people network representation
First Claim
1. A method for selecting a contact path between a first member of an organization and a target individual, the method comprising:
- storing in a memory data associated with multiple members of the organization, wherein the data includes data that directly states one or more areas of expertise for the multiple members of the organization and the target individual is one of the multiple members of the organization;
tracking network communications of the members of the organization;
analyzing a level of interaction between the members of the organization based on the network communications to develop a people network;
receiving data indicating an area of expertise desired by the first member of the organization;
processing, using a computer system, the data that directly states the one or more areas of expertise for the multiple members of the organization to identify at least one or more target individuals of the organization, wherein the data associated with each target individual states that the target individual has expertise in the area of expertise desired by the first member of the organization;
determining, using a computer system, a contact path between the first member of the organization and at least one of the one or more target individuals, the contact path including one or more members of the organization having at least a predetermined level of interaction with at least one of the first member and at least one of the target individuals and the contact path identifies one or more members of the organization that represent a proposed path through the people network for the first member to contact at least one of the target individuals, wherein the one or members of the contact path are distinct from the first member and the target individual; and
providing the contact path to the first member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for applying a people network representation to aid contact between a member of an organization and a target individual selects a contact path between the member and the target supported by analysis of the level of interaction between members of the organization based on network communications of the organization. The people network of the organization is modeled. Level of interaction is analyzed using network communications that take into account the recentness and frequency of interactions, such as email, ICQ, or phone interaction. To contact a targeted individual, for instance such as to obtain expertise in a desired area, the model of the people network allows determination of a contact path between the member and target which improves the likelihood of obtaining the target'"'"'s expertise. A contact path from a member may include a suggestion to contact the target through one or more intervening organization members.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for selecting a contact path between a first member of an organization and a target individual, the method comprising:
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storing in a memory data associated with multiple members of the organization, wherein the data includes data that directly states one or more areas of expertise for the multiple members of the organization and the target individual is one of the multiple members of the organization; tracking network communications of the members of the organization; analyzing a level of interaction between the members of the organization based on the network communications to develop a people network; receiving data indicating an area of expertise desired by the first member of the organization; processing, using a computer system, the data that directly states the one or more areas of expertise for the multiple members of the organization to identify at least one or more target individuals of the organization, wherein the data associated with each target individual states that the target individual has expertise in the area of expertise desired by the first member of the organization; determining, using a computer system, a contact path between the first member of the organization and at least one of the one or more target individuals, the contact path including one or more members of the organization having at least a predetermined level of interaction with at least one of the first member and at least one of the target individuals and the contact path identifies one or more members of the organization that represent a proposed path through the people network for the first member to contact at least one of the target individuals, wherein the one or members of the contact path are distinct from the first member and the target individual; and providing the contact path to the first member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for determining a people network within a communications network, the system comprising:
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a processor; and a memory, coupled to the processor, to store data associated with multiple members of the organization, wherein the data includes data that directly states one or more areas of expertise for the multiple members of the organization; wherein the memory further includes a people network model module interfaced with the communications network and interfaced with the memory and operable to model communications of the communications network; wherein the memory further includes code that is executable by the processor and the code comprises; an interaction level analyzer module interfaced with the people network model module and operable to apply a model of the communications to a level of interaction of the plural members to determine a people network representation; and a target locator and contact path module interfaced with the people network model and the interaction level analyzer module to; (i) accept a query from a first member for members of the organization having a desired expertise; (ii) process the data that directly states the one or more areas of expertise for the multiple members of the organization to identify at least one or more target individuals of the organization, wherein the data associated with each target individual states that each target individual has expertise in an area of expertise desired by the first member of the organization; (iii) determine a contact path between the first member of the organization and at least one of the one or more target individuals, the contact path including one or more members of the organization having at least a predetermined level of interaction with at least one of the first member and at least one of the target individuals and the contact path identifies one or more members of the organization that represent a proposed path through the people network for the first member to contact at least one of the target individuals, wherein the one or more members of the contact path are distinct from the first member and each target individual; and (iv) provide the first member with the contact path and the one or more target individuals based on the desired expertise and the level of interaction of the first member with members of the organization. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of using a computer system for determining a target individual having expertise in a subject matter of interest to a first member of an organization, the method comprising executing code stored in the computer system for:
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storing in a memory data associated with multiple members of the organization, wherein the data includes data that directly states one or more areas of expertise for the multiple members of the organization and the target individual is one of the multiple members of the organization; processing the data that directly states the one or more areas of expertise for the multiple members of the organization to identify one or more members of the organization, wherein the data associated with each of the identified members of the organization states that the one or more members have expertise in the subject matter; selecting one or more target individuals from only the one or more identified members having the expertise in the subject matter as stated in the data associated with each target individual; determining a contact path between the first member of the organization and at least one of the one or more target individuals, the contact path including one or more members of the organization having at least a predetermined level of interaction with at least one of the first member and at least one of the target individuals and the contact path identifies one or more members of the organization that represent a proposed path through the people network for the first member to contact at least one of the target individuals, wherein the one or members of the contact path are distinct from the first member and each target individual; and providing the first member with at least one of the contact paths to at least one of the target individuals. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification