System and method for using social networks to facilitate business processes

• US 7,877,266 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dun & Bradstreet Corp., DUN & Bradstreet Incorporated (Dun & Bradstreet Corp.), Hoover's Incorporated (Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DUN & Bradstreet Incorporated (Dun & Bradstreet Corp.)
• Inventors: Brydon, Antony, Patterson, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/193,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/1.1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for facilitating business processes in an enterprise application. The method according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises obtaining information regarding one or more entities and analyzing the information regarding the one or more entities to determine one or more paths between the one or more entities and one or more members of an enterprise. Information regarding the one or more entities is distributed to the one or more members of the enterprise where one or more paths exist between the one or more members of the enterprise and the one or more entities.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating business processes in an enterprise application, the method comprising:

prospecting for a business lead, wherein said prospecting includes;

(a) receiving a search criterion selected from the group consisting of a geographic region, an industry, a size of a business, and a combination thereof; and

(b) searching data based on said search criterion, wherein said searching returns information about a prospective business contact;

analyzing said information and data regarding a social network to determine a member of an enterprise in a path to said prospective business contact; and

distributing to said member, said information and a representation of said path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said representation of said path comprises a graphic representation of said path.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein said method further comprises determining a strength for said path, and

wherein said graphic representation indicates said strength.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein said searching discovers a plurality of prospective business contacts, and

wherein said method further comprises prioritizing said plurality of business contacts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said distributing comprises displaying said information in conjunction with an application selected from the group consisting of a CRM application, a SFA application, an HCM application and a messaging application.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein said member is a first member of said enterprise, and said path is a first path,

wherein said analyzing determines a second path between said prospective business contact and a second member of said enterprise, and

wherein said method further comprises distributing, to said second member, said information and a representation of said second path.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein said member is a first member of said enterprise, and said path is a first path,

wherein said analyzing determines a second path between said prospective business contact and a second member of said enterprise, and

wherein said method further comprises:

determining a first strength for said first path and a second strength for said second path; and

prioritizing said first and second paths based on said first and second strengths.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said path is through an intermediate member of said social network.

9. A method for facilitating business processes in an enterprise application, the method comprising:

prospecting for a business lead, wherein said prospecting includes;

(a) receiving a search criterion selected from the group consisting of a geographic region, an industry, a size of a business, and a combination thereof;

(b) searching data based on said search criterion, wherein said searching returns information about a prospective business contact;

analyzing said information and data regarding a social network to determine (a) a first member of an enterprise in a first path to said prospective business contact, and (b) a second member of said enterprise in a second path to said prospective business contact;

determining a first strength for said first path and a second strength for said second path;

prioritizing said first and second members based on said first strength and said second strength, thus yielding a highest ranked member and a highest ranked path; and

distributing to said highest ranked member, said information and a representation of said highest ranked path.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said representation of said highest ranked path comprises a graphic representation of said highest ranked path.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said graphic representation indicates a strength of said highest ranked path.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said distributing comprises displaying said information in conjunction with an application selected from the group comprising a CRM application, a SFA application and an HRM application.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said first path is through an intermediate member.

14. A system for facilitating business processes in an enterprise application comprising:

a prospecting module that prospects for a business lead, wherein said prospecting module;

(a) receives a search criterion selected from the group consisting of a geographic region, an industry, a size of a business, and a combination thereof; and

(b) searches data based on said search criterion, and yields a prospective business contact;

a lead and account analysis module that analyzes said information and data regarding a social network to determine a member of an enterprise in a path to said prospective business contact; and

a lead distribution module that distributes to said member, said information and a representation of said path.

15. The system of claim 14,

wherein said member is a first member of said enterprise, and said path is a first path,

wherein said lead and account analysis module also determines a second path between said prospective business contact and a second member of said enterprise, and

wherein said lead distribution module distributes, to said second member, said information and a representation of said second path.

16. The system of claim 14,

wherein said member is a first member of said enterprise, and said path is a first path,

wherein said lead and account analysis module also determines a second path between said prospective business contact and a second member of said enterprise, and

wherein said lead distribution module:

determines a first strength for said first path and a second strength for said second path; and

prioritizes said first and second paths based on said first and second strengths.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said path is through an intermediate member of said social network.

18. A system for facilitating business processes in an enterprise application, comprising:

a prospecting module that prospects for a business lead, wherein said prospecting module;

(a) receives a search criterion selected from the group consisting of a geographic region, an industry, a size of a business, and a combination thereof; and

(b) searches data based on said search criterion, and yields a prospective business contact;

a lead and account analysis module that analyzes said information and data regarding a social network to determine (a) a first member of an enterprise in a first path to said prospective business contact, and (b) a second member of said enterprise in a second path to said prospective business contact; and

a lead distribution module that;

determines a first strength for said first path and a second strength for said second path;

prioritizes said first and second members based on said first strength and said second strength, thus yielding a highest ranked member and a highest ranked path; and

distributes to said highest ranked member, said information and a representation of said highest ranked path.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said first path is through an intermediate member.