Method, system and software product for locating competence in a group of users connected to an electronic communications network

• US 20080046520A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Océ-Technologies B.V. (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Océ-Technologies B.V. (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Driessen, Samuel, Jager, Jodocus, Slijp, Dion
• Application Number:
  US11/819,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method for locating competence in relation to a given subject in a group of users that are connected to an electronic communications network, includes sending a message to a user via said network, the message inviting the user to return a response message containing a reference to one or more other users who, in the opinion of the responding user, might have competence in relation to the subject; upon receipt of the response message, sending a message analogous to the one in the first sending step to each user who has been referred to in the response message; iterating the second sending step for all response messages, with the exception of those users who had already been referred to in a preceding iteration step; and storing competence data on the basis of the self-assessments and references as established in the above steps. The competence data may further be enhanced by adding a self-assessment of the user'"'"'s competence in relation to the subject, to the response message.

Claims

1. A method for locating competence in relation to a given subject in a group of users that are connected to an electronic communications network, comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a message to a user via said network, the message inviting the user to return a response message containing a reference to one or more other users who, in the opinion of the responding user, might have competence in relation to the subject;

(b) upon receipt of the response message, sending a message analogous to the message in step (a) to each user who has been referred to in the response message;

(c) iterating step (b) for all response messages, with the exception of those users who had already been referred to in a preceding iteration step; and

(d) storing competence data on the basis of the self-assessments and references as established in steps (a) to (c).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (a), the user is also invited to include a self-assessment of his competence in relation to the subject, in the response message, and wherein the competence data stored in step (d) also relate to the user self-assessments.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the competence data are represented in the form of a reference graph.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the self-assessment of a user includes selecting a competence level out of a number of pre-defined competence levels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the competence data are integrated in a data base that stores address book data on the users.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said data base includes data that specify at least one of the position, function and activities of the user within the group.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said messages and response message are sent as e-mails.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the messages take the form of query forms to be filled-in by the users.

9. A system for locating competence in relation to a given subject in a group of users that are connected to an electronic communications network, comprising:

a server connected to said network and adapted to carry out a method comprising the steps of;

(a) sending a message to a user via said network, the message inviting the user to return a response message containing a reference to one or more other users who, in the opinion of the responding user, might have competence in relation to the subject;

(b) upon receipt of the response message, sending a message analogous to the message in step (a) to each user who has been referred to in the response message;

(c) iterating step (b) for all response messages, with the exception of those users who had already been referred to in a preceding iteration step; and

(d) storing competence data on the basis of self-assessments and references as established in steps (a) to (c).

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the server offers to the users a function to change their self-assessment at any time.

11. A computer program product comprising computer-readable program code that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for locating competence in relation to a given subject in a group of users that are connected to an electronic communications network, comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a message to a user via said network, the message inviting the user to return a response message containing a reference to one or more other users who, in the opinion of the responding user, might have competence in relation to the subject;

(b) upon receipt of the response message, sending a message analogous to the message in step (a) to each user who has been referred to in the response message;

(c) iterating step (b) for all response messages, with the exception of those users who had already been referred to in a preceding iteration step; and

(d) storing competence data on the basis of the self-assessments and references as established in steps (a) to (c).