Method of and a system for ranking members within a services exchange medium

• US 8,700,614 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elance Incorporation
• Original Assignee: Elance Incorporation
• Inventors: Diller, Jonathan Paul, Song, Sunny SunMin
• Primary Examiner(s): Uddin, Md. I
• Application Number:
  US12/755,304
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 707/706, 707/723, 707/733, 707/748, 707/758, 707/722, 707/752, 707/999.003, 707/999.007
• US Class Current: 707/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A method of and a system for ranking users by activity level and achievements within the services exchange medium (SEM) enables better searching for a service provider. An activity score for each service provider is periodically determined. The activity score is based on a point scheme. The point scheme, which is tunable, drives particular behaviors within the SEM by rewarding points for a first set of activities and taking away points for a second set of activities. Upon receiving a query, a total score, which is dependent at least in part on the activity score, is calculated. The results list is sorted based on the total score.

Claims

1. A computerized method of generating a results list comprising:

a. determining a search score for each service provider using a search text, wherein the search score depends on a number of matches between the search text and a professional profile, wherein the matches are located within the professional profile;

b. periodically determining an activity score according to a point scheme for each category associated with each service provider, wherein the activity score comprises a calculation combining a plurality of performance indicator scores for a plurality of performance indicators, wherein the plurality of performance indicators include service delivery, client relationships and marketing and the score for each performance indicator determines a service provider'"'"'s rank among all service providers associated with the category for that performance indicator, wherein the performances indicator scores are based on a rolling time window of a predetermined range of time stretching back in time from the present such that data in the range are considered and data outside the range are not considered in the determination of the activity score, wherein the point scheme increments points for a first set of activities and decrements points for a second set of activities within a services exchange medium, wherein the activity score is stored on a computing device, wherein the first set of activities includes complete jobs successfully, receiving feedback, and getting paid through the services exchange medium and the second set of activities includes violating policies, engaging in disputes with other members, and submitting proposals below budget;

c. upon receiving a query, calculating a total score by combining the search score and the activity score, and wherein if the query is a system generated query to search for all service providers, then the search score is set to a default value such that the activity score is a final determiner of rank in a results list; and

d. sorting the results list on a display based on the total score, wherein services providers associated with more than one job category are listed once in the results list.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the query is a query to search for service providers associated with a job category.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the point scheme is tunable.

4. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein service providers returned in the results list are associated with a job category.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein service providers returned in the results list are from all job categories.

6. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein a service provider associated with more than one job has more than one activity score, wherein the sorting includes selecting the highest activity score to determine the total score.

7. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the activity score establishes a different rank position in a subsequent results list than the rank position in the results list.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method to determine rank of service providers, the method comprising:

a. calculating an activity score according to a point scheme for each category associated with each service provider, wherein the activity score comprises a combination of a plurality of performance indicator scores for a plurality of performance indicators, wherein the plurality of performance indicators include service delivery, client relationships and marketing and the score for each performance indicator determines a service provider'"'"'s rank among all service providers associated with the category for that performance indicator, wherein the performance indicator scores are based on a sliding time window of a predetermined range of time stretching back in time from the present such that data outside of the sliding time window are not considered in the calculation of the activity score, wherein the point scheme increments points for a first set of activities and decrements points for a second set of activities within a services exchange medium, wherein the activity score is stored on a computing device, wherein the first set of activities includes complete jobs successfully, receiving feedback, and getting paid through a services exchange medium and the second set of activities includes violating policies, engaging in disputes with other members, and submitting proposals below budget;

b. upon receiving a search query, determining a search score for each service provider using a search text, wherein the search score depends on a number of matches between the search text and a professional profile belonging to the service provider, wherein the matches are located within the professional profile;

c. combining the activity score with the search score, thereby resulting in a total score, wherein the total score establishes a rank position of the service provider among service providers returned in a first results list, and wherein if the query is a system generated query to search for all service providers, then the search score is set to a default value such that the activity score is a final determiner of rank in the first results list; and

d. sorting the first results list on a display based on the total score, wherein services providers associated with more than one job category are listed once in the first results list.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein service providers returned in the first results list are associated with a job category.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein service providers returned in the first results list are from all job categories.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the activity score establishes a different rank position in a second results list than the rank position in the first results list.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the point scheme is tunable.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein a service provider associated with more than one job has more than one activity score, wherein the sorting includes selecting the highest activity score to determine the total score.

14. A system for generating a provider results list comprising:

a. a processor; and

b. an application executed by the processor, the application for;

1. determining a search score for each service provider based on a search text, wherein the search score depends on a number of matches between the search text and a professional profile, wherein the matches are located within the professional profile;

2. periodically determining an activity score according to a point scheme for a category associated with a service provider, wherein the activity score is a function of performance scores associated with a plurality of performance indicators for a plurality of performance indicators, wherein the plurality of performance indicators include service delivery, client relationships and marketing and the score for each performance indicator determines the service provider'"'"'s rank among all service providers associated with the category for that performance indicator, wherein each performance score is based on a rolling time window of a predetermined range of time such that data in the range are considered and data outside of the range are not considered in the determination of the activity score, wherein the point scheme increments points for a first set of activities and decrements points for a second set of activities within a services exchange medium, wherein the activity score is stored on a computing device, wherein the first set of activities includes complete jobs successfully, receiving feedback, and getting paid through a services exchange medium and the second set of activities includes violating policies, engaging in disputes with other members, and submitting proposals below budget; and

3. upon receiving a query, calculating a total score for the category based on the activity score and the search score, and wherein if the query is a system generated query to search for all service providers, then the search score is set to a default value such that the activity score is a final determiner of rank in a results list; and

4. sorting the results list on a display based on the total score, wherein services providers associated with more than one job category are listed once in the results list.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the query is not associated with any user input, and the total score is a final determiner of rank in the results list.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the total score is used for ranking the service provider among all service providers associated with the category.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the total score is used for ranking the service provider among all service providers associated with a services exchange medium.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the activity score is determined using data that are not used in a later determination.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the point scheme does not cap a number of points the point scheme awards to service providers.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the point scheme is tunable.