Match-based employment system and method

• US 7,945,522 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania (Citizens Financial Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Jobfox, Inc. (Axel Springer SE)
• Inventors: Smith, Brent, McGovern, Robert J., Ferry, Leslie, Farmer, Brian, Koczara, Pam, Anderson, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): CASLER, TRACI
• Application Number:
  US11/331,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/156 Query results presentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services

Abstract

A method of operating an employment system is provided. The method includes generating a score for each of a plurality of possible results compared to information associated with a user, enabling the user to access a result of the plurality of possible results if the score generated for the result meets a threshold condition, enabling the user to adjust the threshold condition and preventing the user from adjusting the threshold condition beyond a minimum threshold condition. The score can be a bi-directional matching score. The minimum threshold condition can include a minimum score. The minimum score can be determined based on the percentage of the plurality of possible results that would be accessible to the user.

Claims

1. A method of operating an employment system comprising:

(a) causing at least one computer to present a user with a first question;

(b) causing the at least one computer to receive an answer to the first question;

(c) causing the at least one computer to present a user with one or more subsequent questions, the first question and the one or more subsequent questions associated with one or more employment experiences of the user, and the one or more subsequent questions selected from an initial set of questions that are determined to maximize at least one match score for the user;

(d) causing the at least one computer to receive an answer to each of the subsequent questions, at least one subsequent question is selected based on an answer provided to a previous question;

(e) causing the at least one computer to set match information for the user based at least partly upon at least one of the answers; and

(f) causing the at least one computer to generate at least one match score using the match information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of setting match information comprises:

weighing a first match data item and a second match data item equally.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of setting match information comprises:

weighing a first match data item more heavily than a second match data item.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the subsequent questions asks the user to provide a plurality of attributes.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the user is also asked to rank said plurality of attributes.

6. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein configured to operate an employment system, said computer program product comprising;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to present a user with a first question;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to receive an answer to the first question;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to present a user with one or more subsequent questions, the first question and the one or more subsequent questions associated with one or more employment experiences of the user, and the one or more subsequent questions selected from an initial set of questions that are determined to maximize at least one match score for the user;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to receive an answer to each of the subsequent questions, at least one subsequent question is selected based on an answer provided to a previous question;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to set match criteria for the user based at least partly upon at least one of the answers; and

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to generate at least one match score using the match criteria.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a computer to set match information comprises:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to weigh a first match data item and a second match data item equally.

8. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a computer to set match information comprises:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to weigh a first match data item more heavily than a second match data item.

9. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein at least one of the subsequent questions asks the user to provide a plurality of attributes.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the user is also asked to rank said plurality of attributes.