Determining suitability of entity to provide products or services based on factors of acquisition context

• US 8,060,532 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Performance Accountability LLC, Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Performance Accountability LLC, Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Bookert, Phillip, Rosenberg, Sheila, White, Eric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Isaac M
• Application Number:
  US12/570,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 707600-831
• US Class Current: 707/791
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for determining the suitability of an entity to provide products or services. Category and measurement data is received concerning the entity where each category is assigned a value based on the acquisition context. If the value assigned to a category exceeds a threshold, then the measurement data for that category is used in evaluating the entity. This measurement data is weighted according to the acquisition context. A binary value is generated for each weighted measurement value that exceeds a threshold. These binary values are summed and weighted according to the confidence that the source of the data is correct. Further, the past performance and reputation of the entity is used in applying a weight to the summed binary values to generate a suitability value. If the suitability value exceeds a threshold, then it is deemed suitable to conduct business with the entity.

Claims

1. A method for determining the suitability of an entity to provide products or services, the method comprising:

receiving a name of said entity to be evaluated;

determining a reputation value of said entity;

receiving category data regarding said entity;

receiving measurement data associated with said category data;

identifying a value for each category in said category data for an acquisition context involving said entity;

identifying a weight for each of said measurement data associated with a category with a value that exceeds a first threshold value;

comparing each weighted measurement data with a second threshold value;

generating a binary value for each weighted measurement data that exceeds said second threshold value;

summing up binary values for all weighted measurement data that exceed said second threshold value;

applying an appropriate weight to said summed binary values based on confidence source of said category data and said measurement data is correct;

receiving an input on performance of said entity in connection with products or services provided by said entity;

generating a feedback value based on said received input;

applying said feedback value and said reputation value to said weighted summed binary values;

generating a suitability value based on said applying of said feedback value and said reputation value to said weighted summed binary values;

comparing said suitability value to a third threshold value; and

determining if said entity is suitable to provide products or services based on said comparison of said suitability value to said third threshold value.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

performing a search in a database for said reputation value associated with a type of industry of said entity if said name of said entity has not been previously received.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

performing a search in a database for said reputation value associated with said entity if said name of said entity has been previously received.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

generating a binary value of one for each weighted measurement data that exceeds said second threshold value; and

summing up binary values of one for all weighted measurement data that exceeds said second threshold value.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

applying said appropriate weight to said summed binary values based on whether said source of said category data and said measurement data is received first hand.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

performing a search in a database to obtain said appropriate weight to be applied to said summed binary values if said source of said category data and said measurement data previously provided information.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving said input on performance of said entity in connection with products or services provided by said entity comprises:

receiving a first evaluation of said entity meeting specified costs;

receiving a second evaluation of said entity according to a prescribed timeline; and

receiving measurable metrics assigned by an industry of said entity.

8. A computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium for determining the suitability of an entity to provide products or services, the computer program product comprising the programming instructions for:

receiving a name of said entity to be evaluated;

determining a reputation value of said entity;

receiving category data regarding said entity;

receiving measurement data associated with said category data;

identifying a value for each category in said category data for an acquisition context involving said entity;

identifying a weight for each of said measurement data associated with a category with a value that exceeds a first threshold value;

comparing each weighted measurement data with a second threshold value;

generating a binary value for each weighted measurement data that exceeds said second threshold value;

summing up binary values for all weighted measurement data that exceed said second threshold value;

applying an appropriate weight to said summed binary values based on confidence source of said category data and said measurement data is correct;

receiving an input on performance of said entity in connection with products or services provided by said entity;

generating a feedback value based on said received input;

applying said feedback value and said reputation value to said weighted summed binary values;

generating a suitability value based on said applying of said feedback value and said reputation value to said weighted summed binary values;

comparing said suitability value to a third threshold value; and

determining if said entity is suitable to provide products or services based on said comparison of said suitability value to said third threshold value.

9. The computer program product as recited in claim 8 further comprising the programming instructions for:

performing a search in a database for said reputation value associated with a type of industry of said entity if said name of said entity has not been previously received.

10. The computer program product as recited in claim 8 further comprising the programming instructions for:

performing a search in a database for said reputation value associated with said entity if said name of said entity has been previously received.

11. The computer program product as recited in claim 8 further comprising the programming instructions for:

generating a binary value of one for each weighted measurement data that exceeds said second threshold value; and

summing up binary values of one for all weighted measurement data that exceeds said second threshold value.

12. The computer program product as recited in claim 8 further comprising the programming instructions for:

applying said appropriate weight to said summed binary values based on whether said source of said category data and said measurement data is received first hand.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 8 further comprising the programming instructions for:

performing a search in a database to obtain said appropriate weight to be applied to said summed binary values if said source of said category data and said measurement data previously provided information.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said receiving said input on performance of said entity in connection with products or services provided by said entity comprises the programming instructions for:

receiving a first evaluation of said entity meeting specified costs;

receiving a second evaluation of said entity according to a prescribed timeline; and

receiving measurable metrics assigned by an industry of said entity.

15. A system, comprising:

a memory unit for storing a computer program for determining the suitability of an entity to provide products or services; and

a processor coupled to said memory unit, wherein said processor, responsive to said computer program, comprises;

circuitry for receiving a name of said entity to be evaluated;

circuitry for determining a reputation value of said entity;

circuitry for receiving category data regarding said entity;

circuitry for receiving measurement data associated with said category data;

circuitry for identifying a value for each category in said category data for an acquisition context involving said entity;

circuitry for identifying a weight for each of said measurement data associated with a category with a value that exceeds a first threshold value;

circuitry for comparing each weighted measurement data with a second threshold value;

circuitry for generating a binary value for each weighted measurement data that exceeds said second threshold value;

circuitry for summing up binary values for all weighted measurement data that exceed said second threshold value;

circuitry for applying an appropriate weight to said summed binary values based on confidence source of said category data and said measurement data is correct;

circuitry for receiving an input on performance of said entity in connection with products or services provided by said entity;

circuitry for generating a feedback value based on said received input;

circuitry for applying said feedback value and said reputation value to said weighted summed binary values;

circuitry for generating a suitability value based on said applying of said feedback value and said reputation value to said weighted summed binary values;

circuitry for comparing said suitability value to a third threshold value; and

circuitry for determining if said entity is suitable to provide products or services based on said comparison of said suitability value to said third threshold value.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for performing a search in a database for said reputation value associated with a type of industry of said entity if said name of said entity has not been previously received.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for performing a search in a database for said reputation value associated with said entity if said name of said entity has been previously received.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for generating a binary value of one for each weighted measurement data that exceeds said second threshold value; and

circuitry for summing up binary values of one for all weighted measurement data that exceeds said second threshold value.

19. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for applying said appropriate weight to said summed binary values based on whether said source of said category data and said measurement data is received first hand.

20. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for performing a search in a database to obtain said appropriate weight to be applied to said summed binary values if said source of said category data and said measurement data previously provided information.

21. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said circuitry for receiving said input on performance of said entity in connection with products or services provided by said entity comprises:

circuitry for receiving a first evaluation of said entity meeting specified costs;

circuitry for receiving a second evaluation of said entity according to a prescribed timeline; and

circuitry for receiving measurable metrics assigned by an industry of said entity.